A few days after President Donald Trump’s radical shift of stance on the war in Ukraine—moving toward stronger support for Kyiv against the Russian advance—the U.S. administration has hinted that it is considering equipping the Ukrainian Armed Forces with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Amid concerns from various actors over a possible escalation of the conflict, with warnings from Russian officials, Washington asserts that this weaponry would be key to enabling Ukrainian troops to carry out long-range strikes against targets deep inside Russian territory, significantly extending the range of other armaments supplied so far.
The news was even mentioned by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who told local media that his country was already holding high-level talks to assess the feasibility and impact of such a transfer, with the final decision resting with President Trump himself. His remarks were reinforced by Keith Kellogg, the White House special envoy to Ukraine, who stated: “Use the capability to strike deep. There are no sanctuaries.”
From a technical perspective, Tomahawk cruise missiles are one of the main long-range strike assets of the U.S. and its closest allies. Usually launched from naval platforms, the system can hit targets around 1,600 kilometers away (compared to about 250 km for a British Storm Shadow), and even more depending on configuration. Each missile measures 6.1 meters in length, 2.6 meters in wingspan, and weighs about 1,510 kilograms.
In terms of unit cost, Pentagon budget requests for 2026 included 56 new missiles at around $1.3 million each, with several million more invested in modernization. Reports suggest that Washington’s plan would involve selling the missiles to as-yet unidentified European countries, which would then transfer them to Ukraine. The idea seems to be to prevent Moscow from considering the U.S. the main culprit of escalation—a perception that appears unrealistic.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented: “I think this is mainly due to European pressure on Washington, and Washington wants to show that it takes its allies’ views into account. I don’t think we’re looking at a decision already made. The Americans aren’t supplying Tomahawks to just anyone.” He added that such deliveries complicate negotiations to end the war and further entangle NATO countries, concluding with a warning that shipments of this kind would be valid targets for future Russian strikes.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asked: “Who will launch those missiles? Ukrainians alone or with assistance? Who determines the targets?” His doubts allude to previous episodes where Kyiv had to seek U.S. presidential authorization before employing Western-supplied weapons, as well as its reliance on allied intelligence resources to select targets. He also emphasized that Tomahawks are not a “panacea” capable of completely altering the battlefield situation.
It is worth recalling that earlier deliveries of medium-range Western weaponry to Ukraine prompted swift Russian countermeasures with new systems of their own. Such was the case with Oreshnik missiles, first fired soon after the U.S. authorized ATACMS transfers—munitions usable against Russian territory. U.S. speculation, however, rests on the notion that Russia faces resource shortages that could limit its ability to mount a truly superior response to Tomahawks.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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