Donald Trump stated that Kyiv may receive Tomahawk cruise missiles if Russia refuses to settle the war in Ukraine. The U.S. President noted that this measure could become "a new step of aggression," DW reports.
Kyiv may receive American Tomahawk cruise missiles if Russia refuses to settle the aggressive war against Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the night of Monday, October 13, aboard Air Force One. He specified that he discussed this issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 11 and 12, and warned that this measure could become "a new step of aggression."
Trump: I will talk to Russia about "Tomahawks"
"Maybe I should talk to the Russians about Tomahawk. Do they want Tomahawk flying in their direction? I don't think so," Trump said.
He added that he intends to warn Russian President Vladimir Putin about such a possibility. "I can say: 'Look, if this war is not settled, I am going to send them Tomahawk,'" Trump stated. He clarified that if a decision is made, the U.S. will sell the missiles not directly to Ukraine, but to NATO countries that can transfer them to Kyiv.
"Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, a very offensive weapon. And, honestly, Russia doesn't need it. And I can tell them that if this war is not settled, we will do this. We may not do it, but we may do it," the Republican added.
Zelensky named targets for Tomahawk in case of American supplies
Ukrainian President in an interview with the American television channel Fox News on October 12 stated that if the U.S. provides his country with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, they will not be used to attack the civilian population of Russia. "Only military targets. We will never attack their civilian population," Zelensky said. On the same day, Zelensky had a second conversation with Trump in the last two days.
According to Axios, the topic of possible Tomahawk supplies was also discussed during the presidents' conversation on October 11. "We see and hear that Russia is afraid that the Americans might give us 'Tomahawks.' This is a signal that such pressure can contribute to peace," Zelensky wrote following the Sunday conversation.
Zelensky's requests for Tomahawk supplies
According to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, at the end of September, the Ukrainian president asked Trump to provide Tomahawk, which have a range of 1250-2500 km, during a closed meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York. Reuters reported that the supplies of these missiles to Ukraine are unlikely, as the existing U.S. stocks are primarily intended for the needs of the U.S. Navy and other purposes. Supplies of missiles with a shorter range, such as ATACMS, are more likely, agency sources stated.
Trump himself, responding to a journalist's question in early October, stated that he has "almost made a decision, to a large extent" regarding the supply of Tomahawk to Ukraine. "I think I want to know what they (the Ukrainians - Ed.) will do with them. Where will they direct them? I suppose I will have to ask about this. I would ask certain questions. I am not going to seek escalation of this war," he added.
For his part, Russian President Putin stated that a possible decision by Trump to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine "will lead to the destruction of our (Russia and the U.S. - Ed.) relations, at least the emerging positive trend in these relations."
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