The United States is contemplating a significant policy shift regarding military support for Ukraine by potentially supplying long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. This comes after a history of rejecting similar requests from Kyiv throughout the ongoing conflict with Russia. Vice President JD Vance discussed this development during an interview on Fox News Sunday.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a private meeting with former President Donald Trump, during which he formally appealed for the sale of Tomahawk missiles to European nations capable of transferring them to Ukraine. The introduction of these powerful weapons, which have a striking range of approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and can carry a warhead weighing about 450 kilograms (922 pounds), could significantly escalate the ongoing conflict and increase tensions between Moscow and Washington.
The Tomahawk missile, developed by Raytheon, is a precision weapon typically launched from ships and submarines to target high-value or heavily fortified land objectives. It measures around 20 feet (6 meters) in length, has a diameter of 21 inches (53 centimeters), and boasts a wingspan of 8.6 feet (2.6 meters). The missile can travel at speeds of approximately 880 kilometers (547 miles) per hour while flying at low altitudes. Currently, only the United States and the United Kingdom operate Tomahawk missiles, although other countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, are in varying stages of planning or acquiring these capabilities.
Since the onset of the war in February 2022, Ukraine’s requests for long-range strike capabilities have been consistently declined by Washington due to concerns that such actions would further exacerbate the conflict. However, amid frustrations over stalled peace negotiations with Russia, Zelensky suggested to Trump that the approval for missile transfers could serve as leverage to encourage President Vladimir Putin to engage in meaningful dialogue.
While an official decision has yet to be publicly announced, US Special Envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, conveyed a seemingly optimistic outlook during an interview with Fox News. “I think reading what he (Trump) has said, and reading what Vice President Vance has said…the answer is yes. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries,” Kellogg remarked, hinting at a possible shift in US policy that could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
