Russia: Delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be a serious escalation
The Kremlin said today it expects clarity on the possibility of the US providing Ukraine with “Tomahawk” missiles, adding that these weapons could in theory carry nuclear warheads, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated his position that for Moscow, the delivery of “Tomahawk” to Kiev would be a serious escalation of the war.
US President Donald Trump said earlier that he had “somewhat” made a decision to deliver “Tomahawk” missiles to Ukraine.
“I think I want to understand what they are going to do with them. Where are they sending them? I guess I’ll have to ask them that question,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I’m not looking for escalation,” he noted.
Trump also commented on the talks to end the war in Gaza. “I think things are going very well and that the Hamas group has accepted some very important things,” the American president said, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
In response to a question about what the transfer of Tomahawk missiles would mean, Putin said that this could be something dangerous because the cruise missiles are powerful and could pose a threat. “It is impossible to use the “Tomahawk” without the direct participation of American military personnel,” the Russian leader said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that there was a risk of escalation if the United States handed over Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Reuters reported, BTA reports. At the same time, however, the Russian leader expressed the opinion that this move would not change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine. Putin said this at the plenary session of the Valdai Forum.
“This will mean a completely new, qualitatively new stage of escalation, including in relations between Russia and the United States,” Putin warned. Putin said the “Tomahawk” missiles could hurt Russia, but it would simply shoot them down and improve its air defense systems.
