Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would severely damage relations between Moscow and Washington. The statement comes amid reports that U.S. officials are considering delivering the weapons, which have a range of 2,500 kilometers and could target cities like Moscow.
Putin emphasized during an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin that any decision by former U.S. President Donald Trump to provide the missiles would “lead to the destruction of our relations,” undermining recent diplomatic progress. He argued that Ukraine’s military lacks the capability to operate such advanced systems without direct American involvement, stating, “The deliveries of American Tomahawk cruise missiles will not change the balance of power on the battlefield.”
The discussion follows claims that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy explicitly requested Tomahawks during his meeting with Trump at the UN General Assembly. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed earlier this month that the White House was evaluating the proposal, while special envoy Keith Kellogg suggested Trump might have authorized strikes on Russian territory.
Russian officials have downplayed the strategic impact of such a move, noting that existing missile systems like ATACMS had limited effectiveness against Russia’s air defenses. Meanwhile, U.S. media outlets reported internal skepticism within Trump’s circle about the practicality of Tomahawk missiles in altering combat outcomes.
