Russia says it’s rigorously monitoring Ukraine’s request to the US for long-range “Tomahawk” missiles that might enhance Kyiv’s skill to strike deep inside Russia.
The request comes as US President Donald Trump seems to be shifting his stance on help for Ukraine towards Russia due to his rising frustration with President Vladimir Putin’s conflict push regardless of a meeting to discuss peace in Alaska in August.
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Chatting with media on Monday, Russian authorities spokesperson Dmitry Peskov maintained that the weapons, if delivered, wouldn’t be a game-changer within the conflict. He prompt, nevertheless, that the US might be crossing a purple line that Moscow had previously set over what it sees as direct interference by Ukraine’s allies within the ongoing conflict.
“The query, as earlier than, is that this: who can launch these missiles? … Can solely Ukrainians launch them, or do American troopers have to try this?… Who’s figuring out the focusing on of those missiles? The American aspect or the Ukrainians themselves?” Peskov requested.
Moscow has beforehand stated that it’s going to think about the availability of focusing on knowledge or intelligence to launch assaults as crossing the road. It has repeatedly prompt that Russia might restart manufacturing of intermediate-range nuclear weapons and station related missiles inside hanging distance of the West.
In a Monday publish on Telegram, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that such interference might lead to a conflict with “weapons of mass destruction”.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the US’s stance on Tomahawks and what delivering them to Ukraine may imply:
What weapons has Ukraine requested for and the way has the US responded?
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated he requested the Tomahawk missiles when he met President Donald Trump in New York on the sidelines of final week’s United Nations General Assembly.
Beforehand, the US authorities beneath Joe Biden restricted Kyiv from utilizing US weapons to strike Russia with a view to keep away from an escalation of tensions with Putin. Ukraine was allowed to focus on Russian positions in occupied territory.
However in an interview with US media outlet Axios final week, Zelenskyy stated Trump had advised him Ukraine might retaliate towards Russian strikes in a like-for-like method: for instance, by hanging power infrastructure if Russia focused Ukraine’s power assets.
Talking on Fox Information on Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the US authorities is certainly now contemplating a request from Kyiv to ship Tomahawks. Vance didn’t reveal particulars, however stated that Trump could be making the “closing willpower”.
In the meantime, Keith Kellogg, the US’s particular envoy to Ukraine, additionally commented on the request in a while Sunday whereas talking on a separate present on Fox Information. Kellogg stated the Trump administration was already permitting Kyiv to strike deep into Russia in particular situations, and that “there are not any things like sanctuaries”.
What are Tomahawk missiles?
Tomahawks are long-range subsonic cruise missiles that may be launched from ships, submarines or floor launchers. They’ve long-range, deep-strike capabilities, and may hit targets 1,250km-2,500km (777-1,553 miles) away.
They carry high-explosive warheads designed to penetrate hardened targets like navy bunkers. Tomahawks are additionally quick: They keep away from radar detection by flying at excessive subsonic speeds whereas sustaining low altitudes.
The US Navy has used Tomahawks because the Seventies. The missiles are presently manufactured solely by US weapons producer RTX.
Why does Ukraine need Tomahawks?
Kyiv has lengthy been requesting highly effective long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia, however its Western allies, which kind the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), have principally been reluctant to threat a much bigger battle by agreeing to supply these.
Over time, some have relaxed their place considerably and likewise given Ukraine extra freedom over the way it makes use of the weapons they do provide, nevertheless.
Simply weeks earlier than the tip of his presidential time period final November, former US President Joe Biden eased restrictions on using US missiles, partly as a result of Trump had said he wouldn’t help Ukraine additional throughout his presidential marketing campaign.
In Could 2023, the UK started delivering the British and France-built Storm Shadow (or SCALP in France), a long-range missile weighing 1,300kg (2,866 kilos), and with a spread of about 250km (155 miles). Then, in August 2024, the UK additionally permitted Kyiv to make use of its weapons straight towards Russia.
In April 2024, the US despatched Ukraine its Military Tactical Missile Methods (ATACMS), a long-range surface-to-surface missile artillery weapon system that may hit targets as much as 300km (186 miles) away.
Each the Storm Shadow and ATACMS programs are restricted in vary and explosives in comparison with Tomahawks, nevertheless.
Ukraine has developed its personal drone-missile programs to sidestep its allies’ restrictions on using their weapons, together with the turbo-jet drone Paliantysia, which Kyiv boasts can hit targets about 650km (404 miles) away.
In August, Ukraine additionally unveiled the Flamingo, a ground-launched missile it claims can goal places as much as 3,000km (1,864 miles) away, though it’s unclear if it has really launched any.
Marina Miron, an analyst at King’s Faculty, London, advised Al Jazeera that, based mostly on knowledge shared by Ukraine, a Flamingo could actually have higher vary and damaging capabilities than a Tomahawk. Nevertheless, she stated Ukraine should still be requesting the US missiles for largely strategic causes.
“It is likely to be to see how Russia reacts as a result of what Ukraine additionally understands is that capturing a missile like which may invite Russia to make use of extra drive,” Miron stated.
Regardless, if Kyiv receives the Tomahawk weapons, analysts say it might considerably develop Ukraine’s strike capabilities and permit it to hit targets deep inside Russian territory, together with navy bases, logistics hubs, airfields and command centres.
Keir Giles, a Russian navy professional with the UK assume tank Chatham Home, advised Al Jazeera that the missiles would additionally disrupt Russia’s defence ways on the entrance line.
“It might be deep strikes focusing on necessary navy installations and making certain that Russia can not cover behind the entrance traces,” Giles stated, referring to the Russian navy’s tactic of hunkering simply out of the vary of missiles launched from Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Miron argued that whereas Tomahawks would undoubtedly damage Russia, the injury could be restricted. “Is it going to drive Russia to withdraw from Ukraine? I doubt it,” she stated.
President Zelenskyy himself has prompt Ukraine may not really want to make use of long-range US missiles towards Russia if it has possession of them. In his Axios interview, he stated highly effective missiles might serve merely as leverage to stress Russia into agreeing to peace.
“We want it, nevertheless it doesn’t imply that we’ll use it,” Zelenskyy advised Axios. “As a result of if we could have it, I believe it’s extra stress on Putin to take a seat and communicate,” he stated.
How might Russia reply if the US sends Tomahawks to Ukraine?
Russia perceives Western help for Ukraine as a possible “menace of drive”, however is unlikely to take drastic motion, analysts say.
Regardless of Moscow’s veiled threats, Western nations have continued to again Ukraine with humanitarian and navy support.
Talking on the UNGA final week, Russian overseas minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Russia’s place. “Threats of drive towards Russia … have gotten more and more frequent. President Putin has repeatedly debunked such provocations.
“Russia has by no means had and doesn’t have such intentions, however any aggression towards my nation will probably be met with a decisive response,” he stated.
Giles stated Moscow typically makes threats, however principally as a scare tactic, and that Russia is especially cautious with the US. Like all NATO nations, Washington could be anticipated to reply if any member of the alliance comes beneath assault.
Whereas current Russian drone incursions of NATO members’ airspace have raised issues that Russia could also be “testing” NATO’s willingness to reply with navy drive, analysts stated Russia’s threats are unlikely to lead to navy motion.
“Russia says every part is a purple line,” Giles stated. “The nuclear possibility just isn’t one thing Russia would go for. The very last thing Russia needs is to get right into a combat with a unified bloc, particularly with the US, as a result of they understand how catastrophic it might be.”
How is Europe responding to Russian threats?
European leaders haven’t commented on the Tomahawk dialogue.
Nevertheless, the bloc has been rattled by a current sequence of incursions into its airspace by Russian drones and plane.
On Sunday, Poland briefly closed a part of its airspace to make sure its security throughout a Russian strike on Ukraine. That adopted an incident on September 9 when Polish and NATO fighters shot down 20 Russian drones in Polish skies. That marked the primary time a NATO member had straight engaged with Russian navy belongings since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Final week, Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 jets “carrying missiles and combat-ready”, had crossed into its airspace for 12 minutes earlier than being pressured to withdraw. The incursion prompted the nation to name an emergency assembly of the UN Safety Council, at which allies condemned Moscow.
On Monday, Denmark banned all drone flights for per week after it repeatedly sighted drones over its airspace, together with final week, when a number of airports had been pressured to close down.
Romania, Latvia, Norway, Germany and France have additionally reported suspicious drone sightings in September.
Talking at a media occasion in Düsseldorf on Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed Moscow is trying to undermine unity on the continent. Germany has refused to ship its long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine for concern of escalation with Russia, and has not modified its stance.
On Monday, Merz painted a bleak image for Russia-Europe relations. Europe “just isn’t at conflict … however not at peace” with Russia, he stated.
