Pentagon Approves Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine Amid U.S. Leadership Struggles

By Charlie McCarthy | Friday, 31 October 2025 02:09 PM EDT

The Pentagon has reportedly approved Ukraine receiving long-range Tomahawk missiles from the U.S., pending President Donald Trump’s final decision. According to CNN, the War Department confirmed that transferring the weapons would not jeopardize American stockpiles, removing a key technical barrier. However, Trump has expressed reluctance, stating he does not want to divert critical resources from U.S. defense.

“I’d rather not provide them because we don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country,” Trump said during a recent White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The decision comes as European allies urge the U.S. to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, arguing it could accelerate the war’s end.

The Tomahawk missile, capable of traveling nearly 1,000 miles, would enable Ukrainian forces to target strategic energy and military sites far beyond frontline areas. However, Trump has left the matter unresolved, with administration sources indicating contingency plans to deploy the missiles swiftly if authorized. Meanwhile, Trump has intensified economic pressure on Moscow by imposing sweeping sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil—the most significant U.S. sanctions since the invasion began.

European leaders, including Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, have urged Trump to proceed with the transfer, arguing that “Putin believes only in power” and that arming Ukraine could force Moscow to negotiate. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, however, cautioned that deploying Tomahawks would require months of training, making their immediate impact unlikely.

Russia has reportedly used 9M729 cruise missiles—similar to those that prompted Trump’s withdrawal from the INF Treaty in 2019—in recent attacks on Ukraine. Kyiv’s foreign ministry accused Moscow of showing “disrespect for U.S. diplomacy,” framing the escalation as further justification for Western long-range weapons.

Trump’s deliberations reflect a balancing act between maintaining U.S. military readiness and applying pressure on Russia through sanctions and diplomatic efforts. The final decision remains pending, with no clear timeline for action.

Politics