In a significant development, US Vice-President JD Vance has indicated that the United States is considering Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. Vance stated that former President Donald Trump would ultimately decide on the matter.
Ukraine has consistently urged its Western allies to supply weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory, arguing that such capabilities would severely weaken Russia’s military infrastructure and hasten the end of the conflict. As Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Ivan Havryliuk told the BBC, “If the cost of continuing the war for Moscow is too high, it will be forced to start peace talks.”
The Kremlin, however, dismissed the potential move. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented that “no panacea” exists to alter the situation on the front lines for Ukraine, and whether the missiles are Tomahawks or others, they “won’t be able to change the dynamic.”
Tomahawk missiles, with a range of up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles), would bring Moscow within Ukraine’s striking distance.
Adding to the evolving narrative, US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested in remarks on Fox News that the Trump administration had already authorized deep strikes into Russian territory, stating, “The answer is yes, use the ability to hit deep, there are no such things as sanctuaries.”
These statements align with a noticeable shift in the US administration’s tone regarding the war. Following earlier skepticism about Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia, Trump recently declared that Kyiv could “win all of Ukraine back in its original form,” a statement that reportedly surprised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump has reportedly expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to discuss peace versus the reality of continued bombardments on Ukrainian cities.
This comes amidst intensified Russian attacks. On Sunday, a massive 12-hour assault involving hundreds of drones and nearly 50 missiles resulted in four fatalities and at least 70 injuries across Ukraine, with Kyiv being a primary target.
Havryliuk noted that Russia is expected to escalate the intensity and severity of its aerial assaults. Ukraine is also seeking at least 10 Patriot surface-to-air defense systems to counter ballistic missiles. While Havryliuk was hesitant to provide specifics on the delivery of Patriot systems promised by Trump earlier in the year, he acknowledged “some movement in this direction.”
Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones is increasingly challenged by the sheer volume and sophistication of the attacks. Last month, Moscow launched a record number of over 800 drones and missiles, the highest since the February 2022 invasion. This surge inevitably leads to a lower interception rate.
Furthermore, Havryliuk pointed out that Moscow is deploying newer, more advanced drones designed to overcome Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems. “Today, they use 16-channel antennas in order to pass through our jamming zones,” he explained.
Ukraine believes that strengthening its air defense and utilizing long-range weapons could compel Russia to engage in peace talks. Havryliuk emphasized that bolstering Ukraine’s air defense is an investment in European security, especially in light of recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace. “Only together with our partners can we stop the Russian terror in the sky,” he asserted, adding that this would disrupt “Putin’s plans to constantly scare Europe.”
Ukraine is also boosting its domestic defense production, particularly in drones and long-range missiles. Currently, Ukraine meets nearly all its FPV drone needs and can supply up to 40% of other frontline weapons demand. However, for critical air defense systems, Ukraine remains heavily reliant on its allies.