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Amid reports that President Trump is considering providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would only use the long-range US-made weapons against Russian military targets.
Some shit you should know before you dig in: A few weeks back, President Trump indicated that he may move forward with supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but stressed that any decision would depend on assurances about how the weapons would be used. He stated that he wants to be certain the missiles would target only military assets and not escalate the war further. Tomahawk cruise missiles can travel up to 1,550 miles, a range that would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, including Moscow. In response, the Kremlin has warned that such a move would represent an unprecedented escalation, with Russian officials describing it as a “new stage” of the war.
What’s going on now: In an interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would use Tomahawk missiles strictly for military purposes, stating, “We never attacked their civilians. This is the big difference between Ukraine and Russia… if we speak about long-range [missiles], we speak only about military goals.” He stressed that such weapons would serve as a deterrent, potentially pressuring Russia to return to the negotiating table. His remarks came after holding two phone calls with President Trump (one on Saturday and another on Sunday), both of which Zelenskyy described as “very productive.”
According to Zelenskyy, the conversations focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, long-range strike capabilities, and resilience heading into winter. Zelenskyy also revealed that he had briefed Trump on Russia’s intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
This all comes as Russia has ramped up its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a renewed effort to weaken the country ahead of winter and in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. Over the past week alone, Russian forces have launched more than 3,000 drones, along with missiles and bombs. The attacks have caused widespread blackouts and significant damage to power facilities in regions including Kyiv.
