Putin warns US with damaging ties over sending Tomahawk to Ukraine
(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned that if U.S. President Donald Trump approves sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, it would severely damage ties between Moscow and Washington.
Last month, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance disclosed that the administration was weighing the option of providing Kiev with Tomahawk missiles. These weapons, valued at roughly $1.3 million apiece, have a range of 2,500km (1,550 miles), placing Moscow and areas beyond within their reach.
During a Saturday evening interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, Putin commented that Trump’s potential greenlight for such a transfer would “lead to the destruction of our relations. At least the positive tendencies that have appeared in these relations.”
While addressing the Valdai forum on Thursday, Putin argued that Ukrainian troops lack the capability to use such advanced systems without the “direct participation of American military personnel.” Nevertheless, he stated that “the deliveries of American Tomahawk cruise missiles will not change the balance of power on the battlefield.”
He pointed to previous deliveries of long-range ATACMS missiles, which initially “caused some damage, but in the end, Russia’s air defense systems adapted.”
Following talks between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York last month, reports emerged that Zelensky had specifically requested Tomahawks.
Speaking in an interview last Sunday, Vance confirmed, “we’re certainly looking at it.” A day later, special envoy Keith Kellogg implied the president may have already given the go-ahead for long-range Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory.
However, on Thursday, unnamed sources indicated Washington is unlikely to move forward with supplying Tomahawks, as existing stockpiles are already allocated to the U.S. Navy and other strategic uses.
At the same time, another anonymous official noted that some within Trump’s inner circle are doubtful that the Tomahawks would significantly alter the situation on the ground.
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