US President Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine’s forces cannot operate long-range Tomahawk missiles without direct American involvement, emphasizing the complexity of the weapon and potential risks. Speaking during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump declined to confirm whether the US might eventually supply the missiles, which have a range of up to 2,500km. He highlighted that mastering their use would require “a minimum of six months, usually a year” of training, calling them “highly complex.”

“The only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we’re not going to do that,” Trump said. He added that the US possesses expertise in using the missiles but would not share it with others. The president warned that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with such weapons could provoke “an escalation.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously cautioned against supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine, stating that their use would require “the direct participation of American military personnel” and risk undermining peace efforts. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported unnamed US officials suggested the Trump administration had eased restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles. Trump dismissed the claim as “FAKE NEWS,” asserting Washington has no role in how Ukraine employs such weapons.

Ukraine has repeatedly sought Tomahawk missiles, with discussions occurring during a recent White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy. After the talks, Zelenskiy avoided commenting on the issue, though reports described the meeting as unproductive, noting Kiev’s failure to secure missile deliveries.