The deployment of the missiles would be symbolic rather than strategic, the paper has reported, citing officials
Sending US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would carry more symbolic than practical value in Kiev’s conflict with Russia, the Washington Post has reported, citing EU officials.
In the article, published on Thursday, several sources suggested that Washington’s deliberations over Tomahawk deliveries could serve as a negotiating tool as Ukraine already has domestically produced drones capable of striking Moscow.
Additionally, the piece noted that it will take time to train Ukrainian military personnel to operate the long-range missiles, which are capable of striking targets up to 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) away.
US President Donald Trump previously said he was considering Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s request for the missiles, citing stalled peace talks with Moscow, but has not given a definitive answer.
After a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, ahead of a meeting with Zelensky on Friday, he warned that the US must maintain enough Tomahawks in its arsenal to safeguard national security.
The EU and several member states have consistently urged Washington to provide Kiev with more advanced missile and air defense systems. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said this week that he hopes Trump would approve the deliveries, arguing they would boost Ukraine’s ability to hit Russian infrastructure.
Media reports have interpreted Trump’s renewed dialogue with Putin as a sign that Kiev is unlikely to receive the missiles. Trump acknowledged that Putin “didn’t like the idea” of Ukraine acquiring the nuclear-capable weapons.
The potential delivery of Tomahawks would “not change the situation on the battlefield” but would “severely undermine the prospects of a peaceful settlement” and harm US-Russia relations, Putin said on Thursday, as cited by his foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov. Moscow has maintained that it will not yield to external pressure and will pursue its goals in Ukraine by diplomatic or military means.
