Trump Warns of Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine If Russia Refuses to End War

Donald Trump has warned that the United States may send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Russia fails to end the war soon.

Speaking aboard Air Force One while en route to the Middle East to promote a Gaza peace plan, the president said: “If this war isn’t going to get settled, I might send them Tomahawks.”

Trump described the Tomahawk as a powerful and offensive weapon, adding, “Russia doesn’t need that.” He confirmed that the possibility of supplying the missiles had already come up in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy told Fox News that the missiles would be used strictly for military purposes and not against civilians. With a range of about 1,550 miles (2,500km), Tomahawks could reach deep inside Russia, including Moscow.

“Do they want Tomahawks heading in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said, adding that such a move would mark a “new step of aggression.” Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously warned that this would severely strain relations between Moscow and Washington.

Trump’s remarks came as Ukraine claimed fresh advances along the Zaporizhzhia frontline, with forces reportedly pushing forward around Dobropillia — a key logistical area for Russian troops in Donetsk. Zelenskyy said his troops had gained more than 3km (1.8 miles) in southern Zaporizhzhia.

While Russia’s defence ministry did not acknowledge those gains, it reported strikes on Ukrainian troops and equipment in the region. Both sides continue to offer conflicting reports from a frontline stretching roughly 775 miles (1,250km) after more than three and a half years of war.

Last week, Putin said Russian forces had captured about 1,930 square miles of territory this year and maintained a strategic advantage. Zelenskyy countered that Ukrainian troops were inflicting heavy losses on Russian forces near Dobropillia and holding strong across all other areas.

Meanwhile, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid in an effort to weaken the country ahead of winter. Zelenskyy reported that over the past week Russia launched “more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and around 1,360 glide bombs” targeting critical infrastructure.

He also urged stronger sanctions against buyers of Russian oil and said he had a “very productive” call with Trump, discussing air defence, energy security, and long-range military capabilities.

A senior Ukrainian delegation is expected to visit the U.S. this week, while the Kremlin said the potential delivery of Tomahawks to Ukraine remains “a serious concern.”