Trump Says Ukraine May Get Tomahawk Missiles if Putin Doesn't End Conflict

Trump Says Ukraine May Get Tomahawk Missiles if Putin Doesn't End Conflict
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One for a trip to the Middle East on Oct. 12, 2025. Image copyright: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, with great offensive capabilities. Russia is naturally opposed to this weapon expanding Ukraine's arsenal, which is why Trump may use it to leverage Putin into ending the conflict, as was pledged before he entered office.

Pro-Russia narrative

The deployment of Tomahawks would be a serious escalation of this conflict. Without the ability to see whether Tomahawks are carrying a nuclear warheads or not, the use of this weapon could provoke serious responses from Moscow that have consequences for the rest of the world. Trump should not be so short-sighted in his attempts to pressure Putin — he is playing a risky game.

Pro-Ukraine narrative

The difference between Russia and Ukraine in this war is that Ukraine does not strike civilian targets as Russia has routinely done in the course of this conflict. As such, if Ukraine were to receive Tomahawks, they would be strictly used on military targets and to further its military aims.

Metaculus Prediction



The Controversies



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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.16.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.16.0