U.S. President Donald Trump voiced scepticism on October 16, 2025, about providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, citing concerns over depleting American stockpiles just hours before a scheduled White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said he raised the possibility of the transfer with Putin, who "didn't like the idea".
Trump emphasised U.S. needs, stating, "We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too... We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean, we can't deplete for our country." The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year, as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Tomahawk missiles, with a range of up to 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometres), are precision-guided weapons typically launched from U.S. Navy ships or submarines, capable of striking high-value targets deep inside enemy territory. Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged the U.S. to supply them—or allow European allies to transfer them—to enable deeper strikes on Russian military assets, arguing it would force Moscow to negotiate seriously.
Trump, who has floated the idea in recent weeks as leverage against Putin, appeared to backtrack, saying, "I don't know what we can do about that." This follows his October 12 announcement aboard Air Force One, where he warned Russia of potential Tomahawk deliveries if the war persisted, a threat Kremlin officials dismissed as escalatory. Ukraine lacks compatible launch platforms, complicating any transfer, and U.S. officials have noted inventory commitments to naval operations.
The hesitation underscores Trump's dual-track approach: aggressive diplomacy paired with cautious arms support. The Putin call, described by Trump as "very productive", set the stage for a planned summit in Budapest, Hungary, within two weeks to pursue peace talks. Zelenskyy, arriving in Washington amid Russian drone and missile barrages that have crippled over half of Ukraine's gas production, aims to secure not only Tomahawks but also advanced air defences and more ATACMS missiles.
Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that Tomahawk supplies would represent a "qualitatively new level of escalation", potentially derailing settlement prospects. Earlier, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov relayed Moscow's view that the missiles wouldn't alter battlefield dynamics but would harm U.S.-Russia ties.
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Reactions on X highlighted divisions, with critics like @CalltoActivism labelling Trump's Putin consultation "outrageous" and evidence of undue influence, garnering over 199,000 views. Supporters, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, urged continued arms sales for Ukraine's defence while backing Trump's negotiation efforts, stressing a need for Russian ceasefire gestures. Others, like @NSTRIKE_WAR, warned that withholding Tomahawks could undermine U.S. credibility if Putin deceives in talks.
As Zelenskyy presses his case, the meeting could clarify Trump's stance, balancing domestic munitions concerns with alliance commitments amid a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and strained global energy markets.
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