President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he’s not ready to greenlight a deal to get long-range Tomahawk missiles into Ukraine — at least not yet. Asked aboard Air Force One whether he was considering letting the U.S. sell Tomahawks to NATO partners who would then transfer them to Ukraine, Trump was clear: “No, not really.” Translation: he’s not eager to escalate the war, though he didn’t entirely close the door — “he could change his mind,” as the account notes. Classic negotiator energy.
The idea has circulated at the highest levels. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Trump discussed the Tomahawk option during a White House meeting on October 22, and Rutte later said the plan was under review — but, crucially, that it was up to the United States to make the call. So the ball’s in America’s court. No surprise Trump is treating it that way.
Why the hesitation? The Tomahawk packs serious reach — roughly 2,500 km (1,550 miles) — which means it could strike deep inside Russia, including Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has formally requested the weapon. The Kremlin, unsurprisingly, warned against any transfer. So you have a high-stakes choice: arm Ukraine with strike capability that changes the calculus, or avoid a move that could dangerously widen the war.
For now, Trump’s posture is cautious: he’s leaning against it to avoid escalation but leaving room for reconsideration. That’s not indecision — that’s a deliberate calculation. Better to keep maximum leverage and control than to rush into a decision with massive geopolitical consequences.
Bottom line: Tomahawks are off the table for the moment — a win for prudence and a reminder that the U.S. gets to set the terms. If nothing else, this administration is keeping its powder dry and the leverage intact.
