Trump explains why the US will not give Ukraine Tomahawk
23 October 2025 08:47
The United States did not approve the transfer of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine because it takes 6 months to a year for a person to learn how to use them. This was stated by US President Donald Trump during a press conference, according to
“The Tomahawk requires a huge learning curve. It’s a very powerful weapon, a very accurate weapon, and maybe that’s what makes it so difficult. It takes a year of intense training to learn how to use it, and we know how to use it, and we’re not going to teach it to other people,” Trump said.
He emphasized that the only way for Ukraine to strike with Tomahawk missiles is if the United States fired these missiles.
“They’re very sophisticated, so the only way you can fire a Tomahawk is if we fire it, and we’re not going to do that,” Trump emphasized.
Tomahawks are cruise missiles used primarily by the U.S. Navy to attack deep land areas. Launched from ships or submarines, they have a range of up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles).
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Realistic timeline: at least two months
Earlier, aviation expert Konstantin Krivolap in an exclusive commentary
“To launch Tomahawk from Ukrainian territory, we need at least three to four months of training of our specialists and transfer of all technologies,” says Kryvolap.
The expert clarifies that if the training is conducted by military personnel who have already worked with modern Western systems, the process will be faster.
If specialists who have already been trained on Patriot or HIMARS join the training, it will be much easier for them to master Tomahawk,” Kryvolap said.
At the same time, Kryvolap emphasizes that Ukraine has never had such an experience in training.
“We do not have any precedents like this yet. We can only focus on the training that the Ukrainian military received for Patriot and HIMARS.
Even in the best-case scenario, the expert said, it is impossible to accelerate training below a certain point.
In the best case, it is two months, eight weeks. Anything less is simply unrealistic. The optimal period is three to four months, and this is for very experienced operators,” Kryvolap said.
Thus, for Ukraine to be able to launch Tomahawk independently, it will take not only equipment, but also time, people, and deep technical integration.
With Tomahawk missiles, Ukraine could strike deep into Russian territory, targeting key military installations, energy facilities, and critical infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that such strikes would force Putin to take more seriously Trump’s calls for direct talks to end the war.
US weighs risks before possible decision to supply Tomahawk to Ukraine
Media reported that Zelenskyy asked Trump to provide Tomahawks during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 23.
Trump admitted that Tomahawks could be provided to Ukraine if Russia refuses a peaceful settlement. on October 12, he said he would discuss the issue with the Russians:
“Yes, I can tell him (Putin – Ed.) that if the war is not settled, we may well do it, but we may not.”
During a phone conversation on Thursday, Putin told Trump that the transfer of missiles “will cause significant damage to relations between Russia and the United States.”
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