The United States is currently evaluating a significant request from Ukraine for long-range Tomahawk missiles, as stated by US Vice-President JD Vance. Vance noted that the final decision regarding this military support will rest with President Donald Trump. This potential arms support comes at a time when Kyiv has been actively urging its Western allies to supply weaponry capable of striking major Russian cities located far from the front lines.
Ukraine argues that possessing long-range missiles like the Tomahawk, which have a striking range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles), would significantly weaken Russia's military capabilities and facilitate a quicker resolution to the ongoing conflict. Deputy Defence Minister Ivan Havryliuk emphasized to the BBC that if the financial cost of the war becomes untenable for Moscow, it may prompt Russia to engage in peace negotiations.
In response to Vance's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the notion that such military aid could alter the situation on the battlefield. Peskov stated that whether it involves Tomahawk missiles or other armaments, they would not change the current dynamics of the conflict for the Ukrainian government.
While Vance appeared noncommittal regarding the request for Tomahawk missiles, US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg suggested that Trump might have already authorized deep strikes into Russian territory. During an interview on Fox News, Kellogg confirmed that Ukraine has been granted the capability to conduct long-range strikes, indicating that there are no safe zones for Russian forces.
The remarks by Vance and Kellogg reflect a notable change in the US administration's stance on the conflict. Following previous skepticism about Ukraine's capacity to withstand Russian military actions, Trump asserted last week that Ukraine could reclaim its territory, a statement that reportedly surprised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On the ground, the situation remains dire. A recent massive strike involving hundreds of drones and nearly 50 missiles resulted in four fatalities and at least 70 injuries in Kyiv. Havryliuk warned that Russia intends to escalate the intensity of its aerial assaults, necessitating urgent support in the form of at least 10 Patriot surface-to-air defense systems from Western partners to bolster Ukraine's defenses against incoming ballistic missiles.
As the number of drones and missiles launched by Russia continues to rise, intercepting these threats has become increasingly challenging for Ukraine. Earlier this month, Moscow unleashed over 800 drones and missiles in a single attack, marking the highest frequency since the onset of the invasion in February 2022. During such extensive assaults, the interception success rate diminishes significantly, with only 31 out of hundreds of drones in the latest attack successfully hitting their targets, primarily residential and civilian facilities.
Moreover, the sophistication of these aerial attacks is escalating, as Russia is employing newer and more advanced drone technology to penetrate Ukraine's air defenses. Havryliuk noted that while Iranian-made Shahed drones were initially vulnerable to Ukraine's electronic warfare systems, advancements such as 16-channel antennas are now enabling these drones to evade detection and jamming.
Havryliuk believes that enhancing Ukraine's air defense systems is not only vital for national security but also for the safety of the entire European continent, especially in light of recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace. He concluded that strengthening air defenses would disrupt Putin's strategy of instilling fear across Europe.
