The agreement to supply American Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, hinted at by US President Donald Trump, could drag on for months — and these missiles may not even necessarily fly off the launchers, but the very fact of their readiness to provide them will put pressure on the Kremlin, experts and authors of the analysis believe.
Trump said he was “almost done” but wanted to know how Kyiv planned to use the missiles before he finally agreed. Moscow’s reaction was harsh, with the Kremlin expecting clarification from Washington, and officials warning of possible consequences due to the range and potential threat to Russian territory.
Technically, the Tomahawk is a long-range cruise missile; some sources indicate a range of up to ~2,500 km and a historical capability to carry nuclear warheads in earlier versions, which complicates the decision to transfer and raises concerns about escalation.
According to the standard configuration, missiles are launched from ships and submarines, but there are also modifications/solutions for ground-based installations - the Ukrainian side has already stated the possibility of launching from ground-based launch complexes if it receives these weapons.
In addition, deliveries may be complicated by real-world supply constraints and the involvement of existing missiles in the US Navy's inventory, making rapid mass transfer unlikely. Even if a positive decision is made, deliveries will require time for logistics, personnel training, and integration into fire control systems.
Even if Tomahawks are not actually used in combat launches, their presence under US control or at the disposal of allies could become a tool for gradually increasing pressure on the Kremlin and an argument for diplomatic negotiations on de-escalation.
