On Air Force One– Aboard Air Force One (AP) – President Donald Trump Russia warned on Sunday that it could send Ukraine far-fetched Tomahawk missiles If Moscow does not resolve its war there soon, that suggests it may be ready to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin’s government with a major weapons system.
“I might say, ‘Look: If this war doesn’t get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawk missiles,'” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He flew to Israel. “The tomahawk is an incredible weapon, a very offensive weapon. And frankly, Russia doesn’t need that.”
Trump also said, “I would tell them that if the war doesn’t get settled, it very likely will.” He added: “We may not do it, but we may do it. I think it is appropriate to bring it up.”
His statements came after Trump spoke with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said he mentioned the possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles during that conversation.
“Do they want Tomahawk missiles to go in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said of Russia. “I think I might talk to Russia about that.” He added, “The Tomahawk missiles are a new aggressive step.”
His suggestions came Russia after it attacked Electricity network in Ukraine overnight, part of Ongoing campaign To paralyze Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter. Moscow also expressed “deep concern” about the possibility of the United States providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Putin himself had previously indicated that the United States supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles would seriously harm relations between Moscow and Washington.
For his part, Zelensky described his recent call with Trump as “very productive,” and said that the two men discussed strengthening Ukraine’s “air defence, resilience and long-range capabilities,” along with “details related to the energy sector.”
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Briefing” after his call with Trump, Zelensky was asked if Trump had approved Tomahawk missiles, and he said, “We’re working on it.”
“I am waiting for the president’s approval,” Zelensky said. “Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see.”
Ukraine’s president said Friday he was in talks with US officials about potentially providing long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawk missiles and others. ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in statements published on Sunday, “The Tomahawk issue raises serious concern.”
Trump who was Frustrated with Russia in his efforts He said last week that he had “kind of made a decision” about sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, without elaborating. A high-level Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to visit the United States this week.
In recent weeks, the US President has taken a tougher approach with Putin, after the Russian leader refused to enter into direct talks with Zelensky about easing the fighting.
Last month, Trump announced that he now believes Ukraine can recover It lost all territory to Russia – a radical shift from the Republicans’ frequent move He called on Kyiv to make concessions till the end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
But Trump, at least so far, has resisted Zelensky’s calls to use Tomahawk missiles. That would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory and exert the kind of pressure on Putin that Zelensky says is necessary to get the Russians to seriously engage in peace talks.
Trump said on Air Force One that “I really think Putin would look great if he worked this out” and that “it wouldn’t be good for him” if that wasn’t the case.
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Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report from Washington.