'You’re Looking Bad, End It!': Trump’s Message to Putin Over Prolonged Ukraine Invasion

In a fiery outburst at the White House on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump tore into Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the protracted Ukraine invasion, declaring it was "making him look very bad." Speaking during a lunch with Argentina's President Javier Milei—fresh off announcing a massive $20 billion US aid package for Buenos Aires—Trump questioned Putin's strategy, insisting, "I don't know why he continues with this war. He should have won that war in one week."

The remarks set the stage for Trump's high-stakes Friday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, centered on bolstering Kyiv's defenses amid escalating tensions. Just days earlier, on October 13, reports surfaced that Trump is mulling the dispatch of powerful US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, a move that could dramatically shift the battlefield dynamics.

Aboard Air Force One en route to West Asia on Sunday, Trump told reporters he might "have to speak to Russia" about the Tomahawks, adding he'd greenlight them if the conflict drags on unresolved, per Russian agency TASS. Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna hailed the potential supply to ABC News, saying it would "push Russia back" and deliver a "very strong message" to Moscow.

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The Tomahawk, a RTX-built precision striker with ranges up to 1,550 miles, has been a US arsenal staple since the 1980s, launchable from ships, subs, or ground setups. Zelensky, who spoke with Trump twice in 48 hours, described their chats as "very productive" on X, covering defense, air shields, energy resilience, and long-range strikes. In a Fox News interview, he expressed hope that Trump's Israel-Hamas ceasefire triumph could blueprint peace in Ukraine.

But Moscow isn't staying silent. Putin, addressing the Valdai Club on October 2, warned Tomahawks "could not be used" without US troops, calling it a "qualitatively new escalation." By October 5, he cautioned it could "ruin the positive trend" in US-Russia ties, TASS reported.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warn that Ukraine wielding these missiles could hammer Russian ops, with over 1,945 targets in reach of the long-range variant—including drone factories in Yelabuga and bomber bases in Saratov. "Ukraine could significantly degrade Russia's frontline by hitting rear support hubs," ISW's October 5 assessment stated.

As per the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Defense Project, Zelensky has long coveted these weapons to strike deep into enemy territory. With Trump's critique echoing globally, the world watches if this missile gambit forces Putin's hand—or ignites a bigger fire. The Zelensky summit could be the tipping point in this geopolitical thriller.

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