U.S. to guide Tomahawk strikes if Trump approves supply to Kyiv
Tomahawk missile launch from the USS Cape St. George cruiser, March 2003 (Photo: REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Kenneth Moll)
The United States could move quickly to deliver Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine if President Donald Trump authorizes the transfer, the Financial Times reported on Oct. 15.
The potential delivery would come with tight U.S. control over how the weapons are used.
The U.S. military would likely be involved in employing Tomahawks if they are provided to Kyiv. This would eliminate the need for extensive Ukrainian training and enable Washington to approve strike targets on Russian territory.
U.S. officials said that target selection would be closely managed to reduce the risk of escalation.
An initial package could be relatively small and include 20 to 50 missiles, although some experts do not rule out larger transfers. Former Pentagon official Mark Cancian estimated U.S. Tomahawk stockpiles at roughly 4,150 missiles, suggesting that Washington could supply more if necessary.
A senior NATO official cautioned that Moscow would probably respond with harsh rhetoric, “nuclear threats,” and escalation of strikes at Ukraine, but it is unlikely to go beyond saber-rattling.
Tomahawks would strengthen Ukraine’s ability to strike high-value targets deep within Russia, such as oil refineries, elements of Russia’s military-industrial base, logistics nodes and command-and-control systems. The long-range missiles could also be used against air bases and bombers that regularly strike Ukraine.
Tom Karako, director of the missile defense program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes that such strikes could push the Kremlin toward negotiations by degrading Moscow’s sustainment infrastructure.
According to former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodnyuk, the missiles would send an important political message from Washington, demonstrating strong U.S. support for Kyiv.
However Tomahawks alone would not change the overall course of the war.
Tomahawks would ‘complement’ Ukraine’s existing long-range capabilities but would not be a silver bullet. To have strategic effect, the missiles would need to be used in sustained “waves” of at least 100 missiles per month, rather than in token batches. Small numbers would rapidly diminish the weapons’ operational value.
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