Trump Reconsiders the Ukraine Missile Deal
The Ukraine missile deal has become the latest flashpoint between Washington and Moscow. Trump is now publicly open to a potential sale of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. The potential sale, which would ramp up the long-range strike potential of Kyiv, has become a diplomatic flashpoint between Washington and Moscow. Trump made clear that the initiative of selling the Ukraine missiles is above the defense of US interests and stated, “We have a lot of them, but we need them for the United States.”
This is not the first time the topic has arisen, as Trump would later confirm to Zelenskyy at the White House, which in this case was simply a talking point about building on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities without affording favoritism to a resolution.
Putin said that it would lead to “serious damage” to U.S./Russia relations. The diplomacy remains strong with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reportedly meet again in the near future. The Kremlin states that the provision of the Tomahawks and other things like that will not change much “on the ground,” and the purpose would be to “make a political solution much harder.”
Zelenskyy Pushes for the Ukraine Missile Deal
Zelenskyy appears to be continuing to pressure Washington for advanced systems capable of long-range strikes on targets deep within Russia. His position is that Tomahawk missiles could pressure Moscow to the negotiation table for real peace talks, with strikes on key military infrastructure and oil depots. The Tomahawk missiles altogether mark a steep upgrade for Ukraine beyond other Western-supplied missiles like ATACMS and Storm Shadow.
Significance and Cost
According to Raytheon, the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a part of the guided cruise missile family with an approximate striking distance of 1,600 kilometers. Analysts estimate the unit cost of a Tomahawk missile at about $1.3 million apiece. The missiles can be launched from ships, submarines, and ground-based launchers. The United States is expected to purchase additional Tomahawk missiles as part of its modernization program in 2026.
Putin Warns Against Arming Ukraine with Tomahawks
Trump’s reluctance reflects a larger Washington effort to balance military assistance to Ukraine while keeping open lines of communication with Russia. Analysts add that Putin’s overtures may also be efforts to slow or derail any delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. “It looks to me like a stalling technique,” said Max Bergmann, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Prospective Peace Talks and Possible Outcomes
After the appeal, Trump stated he wanted to meet with Putin in Budapest in 2 weeks to talk about peace talks. The Kremlin confirmed that it was preparing but refused to commit to a date. Trump’s transition from aggressive and reckless presidential rhetoric to an overture highlights his desire to bring about a conclusion to the war through personal diplomacy.
A Possible Turning Point for US-Ukraine Defense Relations
The controversy over the Tomahawk missile sale to Ukraine shows the level to which defense relations and diplomacy have coalesced. As the two leaders face pressure from home and abroad, the act could alter America’s trajectory in the Ukraine crisis. Either Trump’s act thus upends the defense sale to tilt the balance in favor of Ukraine, or he fully flips to diplomacy to enhance global security and US-Russia relations.
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