The Kremlin on Monday shot down the idea that U.S.-supplied Tomahawk cruise missiles could alter the battlefield in Ukraine.
“There are no magic weapons,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow as per a report by Newsweek, adding that even advanced U.S. missiles would not change the front-line dynamics. He questioned whether Ukrainians could operate such systems on their own or if Americans would need to provide direct targeting and launch support, a scenario that could drag Washington deeper into the war.
His remarks came after reports that Trump is weighing a Ukrainian request for Tomahawks, a class of long-range missiles capable of hitting targets up to 1,000 miles away, well within reach of Moscow.
Trump under pressure to raise stakes
For Trump, the Tomahawk debate stresses his dilemma: he wants to force Moscow to negotiate peace but risks sparking a NATO-Russia clash if the U.S. crosses the long-range weapons threshold.
Officials say the idea is part of Trump’s broader effort to pressure the Kremlin. He has urged Europe to tighten sanctions on Russia, even floating measures targeting Beijing as Moscow’s top ally, and has suggested NATO allies should be prepared to shoot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace.
So far, the U.S. has resisted giving Ukraine long-range strike capabilities, precisely because of the escalatory risks.
JD Vance confirms review of Zelensky’s request
Speaking to Fox News, U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Trump is reviewing the Ukrainian plea.
“It’s something that the president is going to make the final determination on,” Vance said. “We’re reviewing that request, along with others.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has argued that without long-range strike options, Kyiv cannot deter Russia’s deep-rear attacks or force it to negotiate.
Escalation on the ground
While Washington debates, Russia has stepped up its own strikes. Over the weekend, Moscow launched its heaviest aerial bombardment of Kyiv in weeks, killing at least four people and injuring dozens more. It followed another deadly attack earlier this month that killed 21 civilians in the Ukrainian capital.
These strikes highlight Ukraine’s urgency for long-range weapons. But the Kremlin’s message is blunt: even if Tomahawks arrive, Russia believes they won’t be decisive.
A dangerous gamble
The decision now sits with Trump. Authorising Tomahawks would be a calculated gamble, a high-risk attempt to shift the war’s momentum and force Russia to the table. But if Moscow views it as direct U.S. involvement, it could trigger the very confrontation between NATO and Russia that Washington has long sought to avoid.
For now, Trump appears to be weighing whether the symbolic pressure of Tomahawks is worth the strategic risk.
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