In a pre‑Ukrainian summit press briefing, President Donald Trump said he could send Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv or not, while a retired U.S. Navy officer cautioned that the United States will likely refuse such a transfer.
Trump’s Stance on Tomahawks
Trump told the media that he could send Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv or decline to do so, saying, “I can tell Russia that if the war is not settled, we could as well send Tomahawks to Kyiv; we could not do it, but we could.” He later added that he “needs to find out a few more things” and questioned whether Russia would want the missiles to return to them.
US Navy Officer’s Assessment
Retired U.S. Navy officer Mark Montgomery told the BBC that the United States is unlikely to transfer Tomahawks to Ukraine because the missiles require extensive U.S. support, including training, mission planning and special equipment that the U.S. would hesitate to provide. He noted that such an arrangement would be “an uncomfortable use of the United States” for President Trump.
Budapest Meeting Planned
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that on 17 October he would discuss “peace” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming for a new economic development stage for Hungary and Europe. Both leaders are expected to meet in Budapest around early November, a location confirmed by Trump during a phone conversation with Putin.
Upcoming Trump‑Zelensky Meeting
On Friday, President Trump will hold a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Ukrainian officials hope for discussion, but a recent phone between Trump and Putin suggests that no Tomahawks or sanctions will be forthcoming in the near future.
Implications for Ukraine’s Tomahawk Demands
Some commentators argue that Zelensky may still effectively lobby Trump regarding Ukraine’s interests, despite the apparent reluctance to supply Tomahawk missiles.
