Trump refuses to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine for now – AP
17 October 10:14
U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not yet ready to transfer long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
This was reported by the American news agency Associated Press, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
In recent days, Trump has expressed his willingness to sell Tomahawks to Ukraine, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warnings that such a move would lead to even greater tensions between the US and Russia. But after another conversation with Putin on Thursday, October 16, he lowered Ukraine’s expectations of receiving the weapons, AP reports.
“We also need Tomahawks for the United States. We have a lot of them, but we need them. That is, we cannot deplete our country,” he said at a press conference at the White House.
With the 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 that he would discuss this 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.”
On Friday, October 17, Trump will discuss the Tomahawk delivery with Zelenskyy.
