ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — Chairman Donald Trump Russia warned on Sunday that it could send Ukraine long distances Tomahawk missiles if Moscow does not settle its war there quickly, indicating that it could be willing to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin’s government with the help of a major weapons system.
“I could say, ‘Look: If this war doesn’t get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,’” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flown to Israel. “The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, a very offensive weapon. And frankly, Russia doesn’t need it.”
Trump also said, “I could tell them that if the war isn’t settled, it’s very possible.” He added: “Maybe not, but we can do it. I think it’s appropriate to bring this up.”
His comments came after Trump spoke with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Trump said that during that conversation he mentioned that he might have sent Tomahawks.
“Do they want Tomahawks to go that way? I don’t think so,” Trump said of Russia. “I think I can talk to Russia about that.” He added that “Tomahawks are a new step in aggression.”
His suggestions followed Russia has attacked The Ukrainian electricity grid overnight, part of a ongoing campaign to paralyze Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter. Moscow also expressed “extreme concern” over the US supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Putin himself has previously suggested that the delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine would seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington.
For his part, Zelenskyy described his latest conversation with Trump as “very productive” and said the pair had discussed strengthening Ukraine’s “air defense, resilience and long-range capabilities,” along with “details related to the energy sector.”
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing” after his phone call with Trump, Zelenskyy was asked if Trump had approved the Tomahawks and said, “we’re working on it.”
“I’m waiting for the president to say yes,” Zelensky said. “Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see.”
The Ukrainian president said Friday he was in talks with US officials about the possible delivery of several long-range precision weapons, including Tomahawks and more. ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a comment published Sunday that “the topic of Tomahawks is of great importance.”
Trump, who has been frustrated by Russia in its efforts to end the war, said last week that he has made “some kind of decision” on whether to send Tomahawks to Ukraine, without elaborating. A senior Ukrainian delegation will visit the US this week.
The US president has taken a noticeably tougher approach towards Putin in recent weeks, after the Russian leader refused to engage in direct talks with Zelensky on easing the fighting.
Last month, Trump announced that he now believes in it Ukraine could win back all the territory lost to Russia – a dramatic shift from that of the Republicans was repeated calls on Kiev to make concessions end The Russian war in Ukraine.
But Trump has, at least so far, resisted Zelenskyy’s calls for Tomahawks. They would allow Ukraine to push deeper into Russian territory and put the kind of pressure on Putin that Zelenskiy says is needed for the Russians to seriously participate in peace talks.
Speaking aboard Air Force One about the war, Trump said: “I really think Putin would look great if he could get this sorted out” and that “it won’t be good for him” if he doesn’t.
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Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report from Washington.
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