For months, Ukraine’s pleas for Tomahawk cruise missiles were an open secret in diplomatic circles. But on Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed it publicly: Washington is actively weighing Kyiv’s request, and the final word rests with President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Vance said the US is “certainly looking at a number of requests from the Europeans” and acknowledged Tomahawks are part of that discussion. The admission marks the clearest signal yet that the Biden-era red line on supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles may be under review.
Why Vance’s confirmation matters
Until now, Tomahawk requests were either leaked or floated by Ukrainian officials. US leaders largely sidestepped direct acknowledgement, citing escalation risks. Vance’s statement changes that, it puts the debate squarely on record.
It also means Trump must soon decide whether to break precedent by allowing NATO allies to send Ukraine a weapon capable of hitting Moscow itself.
Zelensky’s high-stakes pitch
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally raised Tomahawks with Trump during their meeting last week, according to officials familiar with the talks. Speaking to Axios later, he hinted the request was about deterrence as much as firepower.
“If we will have it, I think it’s additional pressure on Putin to sit and speak,” Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv may not even need to use the missiles if their mere presence shifts Moscow’s calculus.
Trump’s hesitation and stockpile worries
Trump has so far resisted granting Tomahawks, even as he approved other Ukrainian requests. The sticking points: fears of escalation, and concerns about America’s limited stockpile. Tomahawks are not instantly replaceable; building more takes months.
Still, Zelensky insists Trump told him 'we will work on it,' leaving the door open to a possible shift.
The bigger battlefield picture
Tomahawk range: up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles), far beyond the 190-mile ATACMS currently in Ukraine’s arsenal.
Why it matters: Tomahawks would put Russia’s command centers, depots, and even Moscow within range.
Ukraine’s alternatives: drones and indigenous missiles like Palianytsia and Flamingo, which lack Tomahawk’s proven record.
As Vance noted, Russia’s offensive has 'stalled with little to show for it,' but civilian casualties keep mounting from drone and missile strikes.
Here’s the thing: Vance’s acknowledgment signals that the debate has entered the Oval Office. Trump will have to weigh whether arming Ukraine with a strategic deterrent brings peace talks closer, or drags the US deeper into confrontation with Moscow.
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