Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky discussed the likelihood of Ukraine transferring Tomahawk at their meeting in Washington on October 17. Head of the White House stated that he hoped to end the war, “without thinking” about these missiles, and called on Ukraine and Russia to conclude a peace agreement and stop on the front line. However On October 31, CNN reported that The Pentagon allegedly gave the White House the green light to supply Tomahawk to Ukraine, deciding that it would not affect the US stockpile.
The journalist asked Trump if he was considering transferring the Tomahawk to Ukraine. The US President objected.
“No, not really. This is a final decision – I could change it, but I’m not going to yet,” the American leader replied.
He previously stated that it would take a year to master Tomahawk, and the Americans would not teach anyone. Zelensky explained that the presence of these missiles in Ukraine does not mean their immediate use. He believes that Tomahawk will push the illegitimate Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations without striking.
Context
On the eve of the meeting with Zelensky, Trump had a telephone conversation with Putin and announced their meeting in Budapest, which he subsequently postponed. At the same time, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against the Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, completely blocking their access to the American financial system. Trump expressed the hope that this would prompt the illegitimate president of the aggressor country to negotiate.
Against the backdrop of US sanctions, the approval of the 19th package of EU sanctions, as well as Zelensky's suggestions that Ukraine may yet receive a Tomahawk to protect itself from Russian aggression, Putin said that he would perceive the transfer of these missiles to Kyiv as an “attempt at escalation”, and the Russian response would be “very strong, if not stunning.”
