During a recent TPF roundtable, TPF’s Adrian Basora moderated a conversation between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Their questions addressed the rumored offer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Zelensky’s top priority with these advanced missiles was so Ukraine could conduct long-range, precision strikes on important Russian assets. No deal was struck and Trump didn’t agree to provide the covenanted weaponry.
The Tomahawk missile has a much longer range compared to missiles currently in Ukraine’s arsenal. These missiles can strike vital energy and oil facilities deep within Russian territory, potentially altering the dynamics of the ongoing conflict. Zelensky has been begging for the missiles. Trump has waffled on this, not definitively saying he won’t provide them or that he will.
At the conclusion of that meeting, Zelensky had suggested a potential deal where Ukraine would supply their drones if America would supply U.S.-supplied Tomahawk missiles. Ukraine possesses a significant number of production drones but lacks the advanced missiles that could enable more strategic strikes against Russian targets, including major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
One reason for Trump’s hesitance to give Tomahawk missiles is fear of further provocation and provocation in the area. He reiterated that the U.S. military support should be given cautiously, and that, “The U.S. does not want escalation. He emphasized that if Kyiv and Moscow truly want peace, they must “end the war today.”
While discussing the situation, Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s ability to reclaim territories occupied by Russia, citing confidence in Ukraine’s military capabilities. He reflected on the complexities of the conflict, asserting that “you go by the battle line, wherever it is. Otherwise, it’s too complicated.”
In a particularly defensive response, Vladimir Putin downplayed the significance of Tomahawk missiles to shifting the dynamics on the battlefield. He doubts that they will change the balance of the bloody standoff. European leaders have spoken with the same fierce clarity about their resolve to back Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression.
Zelensky remarked on the broader implications of international assistance: “It was also difficult to manage the situation in the Middle East, and the president was successful in it.” That speaks to the daunting task of prioritizing all our geopolitical commitments and fiduciary obligations to do as much as possible for Ukraine’s immediate needs.
