US President Donald Trump has warned against depleting the country’s Tomahawk missile arsenal to supply Ukraine.
Trump emphasized the need for the United States to maintain its own stockpiles of the advanced cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,554 miles). The remarks came during a press conference in the Oval Office, shortly after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the Russian leader reportedly expressed disapproval of the idea of Ukraine acquiring Tomahawk missiles.
Trump stated that Ukraine has requested the advanced weapons, but the US must retain enough for its own defense. He said, “We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too. We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean, we can’t deplete [our own arsenal],” highlighting the importance of maintaining the missile stockpile for national security.
Russian officials have warned that the potential supply of Tomahawks to Ukraine could undermine the chances of achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Yury Ushakov, a close aide to Putin, told reporters that such a move could severely damage Russia’s ties with the US and escalate tensions. During the call, Putin reportedly didn’t like the idea of Ukraine acquiring the cruise missiles.
Zelensky is expected to push for additional military aid during a meeting at the White House on Friday. Trump has previously reached a deal with NATO that the bloc would cover the cost of American weapons designated for Ukraine, ensuring that the US wouldn’t have to bear the full financial burden.
Russia has consistently maintained that no amount of foreign aid would stop it from achieving its objectives in the conflict, but such actions could increase the risk of a broader war. Trump’s comments reflect an ongoing strategic dilemma: balancing the support of Ukraine with the need to preserve US military capabilities for its own defense.