Trump DENIES Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine, pushes for peace talks as Russia escalates strikes
By kevinhughes // 2025-10-24
Copy
 
  • President Trump has refused to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, citing their operational complexity and the risk of escalating the conflict with Russia.
  • He dismissed reports of the U.S. loosening restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles as "fake news" and emphasized that the U.S. would not be directly involved in firing them.
  • Trump urged both Ukraine and Russia to cease hostilities immediately and seek a negotiated settlement based on the current battle lines, ruling out major territorial concessions.
  • Despite the rejection, Trump is exploring alternative ways to arm Ukraine, such as facilitating the sale of Patriot systems to NATO allies for transfer to Kyiv.
  • The decision aligns with Trump's "America First" policy, prioritizing reducing U.S. military involvement and using the issue as leverage to broker direct peace talks between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.
President Donald Trump has ruled out supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, citing the weapon's complexity and the risk of escalation with Russia while urging both sides to "stop the war immediately" and seek a negotiated settlement. Trump made his stance clear during a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Mark Rutte, stating that Ukraine lacks the capability to operate Tomahawks without direct U.S. involvement—something Washington refuses to provide. "The problem with the Tomahawk is that… it'll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They're highly complex," Trump said. "So, the only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we're not going to do that." He dismissed reports that the U.S. had loosened restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles as "fake news," adding, "We have nothing to do with those missiles, wherever they may come from, or what Ukraine does with them." According to BrightU.AI's Enoch engine, Trump's denial of supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles can be attributed to several strategic, political and ethical considerations that align with his "America First" foreign policy doctrine. His decision reflects his broader approach to foreign policy, which prioritized reducing U.S. military involvement abroad and encouraging allies to take greater responsibility for their own defense. The decision comes amid heightened tensions, as Russia launched its drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities in over a month just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump at the White House. The strike, involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, underscored Moscow’s defiance as Kyiv continues pleading for advanced Western weaponry. Zelensky, who has long sought Tomahawks to strike deep into Russian territory, attempted a bargaining chip, offering "thousands of our production drones" in exchange for the missiles. "Ukraine has such thousands of our production drones, but we don't have Tomahawks. That's why we need Tomahawks," Zelensky said. "But the United States… can have our thousands of drones." Trump, however, remained unmoved, emphasizing America's own stockpile needs. "It's not easy for us to give… you're talking about massive numbers of very powerful weapons," he told Zelensky.

Weapons and leverage: Trump's high-stakes game

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned against supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks, arguing that their use would require direct U.S. military involvement and "severely undermine the prospects of a peaceful settlement." Trump acknowledged these concerns, stating that allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia could lead to "an escalation." Despite the rejection, Trump has not entirely closed the door on future deliveries, leaving open the possibility of using the issue as leverage in upcoming peace talks. Trump, who recently spoke with Putin and plans to meet him in Hungary, urged both sides to halt hostilities based on current battle lines. "You go by the battle line, wherever it is. Otherwise, it's too complicated. You’ll never be able to figure it out. You stop at the battle line," Trump said. "And both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing. And that should be it." Zelensky, while publicly expressing trust in Trump's intentions, has resisted territorial concessions. "It was also difficult to manage the situation in the Middle East, and the president was successful in it," he said, referencing Trump's diplomatic efforts. Though denying Tomahawks, Trump has explored alternative ways to arm Ukraine – including selling Patriot air defense systems and missiles to NATO allies, who could then transfer them to Kyiv without requiring direct Congressional approval. Yet the administration remains cautious, warning Ukraine against reckless strikes inside Russia. The White House appears torn between supporting Kyiv militarily and avoiding actions that could provoke Moscow further. With no immediate breakthrough on weapons, Trump's focus remains on brokering direct talks between Zelensky and Putin – possibly in Budapest or Istanbul. "I think that he [Putin] wants to make a deal," Trump said. "You know, I've been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well." But as Russia intensifies its attacks and Ukraine presses for more firepower, the path to peace remains fraught—with Trump insisting America "won't be the world's policeman forever." Watch this video about Russia issuing a warning amid talk of Washington giving Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com BrightU.ai TheHill.com Edition.CNN.com Brighteon.com
Copy