Putin: US-Ukraine Tomahawk missile delivery would ruin US-Russia relations

Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine for long-range strikes deep into Russia would destroy the Kremlin’s ties with Washington.

Reports indicate that Washington is discussing direct involvement to enhance Ukraine’s ability to target Russian infrastructure deep within the territory. Last month, US Vice President JD Vance also stated that Washington was examining a Ukrainian request for long-range Tomahawks capable of striking deep into Russia, including Moscow, though no final decision has been announced.

US President Donald Trump also expressed disappointment in Putin for not securing peace and described Russia as a “paper tiger” for its inability to subdue Ukraine. Last week, Putin responded critically, questioning whether NATO is merely a “paper tiger” for not preventing Russia’s progress.

How could US Tomahawk supplies impact Russia-US relations?

“This will lead to the destruction of our relations, or at least the positive trends that have emerged in these relations,” Putin stated in a video clip released on Sunday by Russian state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin.

“This will mean a completely new, qualitatively new stage of escalation, including in relations between Russia and the United States,”

Putin said. He mentioned that Tomahawks could pose a threat to Russia, but Russia would likely shoot them down and enhance its air defence capabilities.

What are Tomahawk missiles, and how far can they reach?

Tomahawk missiles are subsonic, long-range cruise missiles built mainly for land attack operations. They are used primarily by US Navy surface ships and submarines, and also by the United Kingdom Royal Navy’s submarines. These missiles are capable of hitting high-value and heavily defended targets with high precision from ranges of roughly 1,000 to 1,600 kilometres.

What additional missile capabilities has the US supplied to Ukraine?

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the US has provided Ukraine with a wide variety of missiles and missile-related technology. It included HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) with precision-guided munitions, of which several hundred were delivered since they were deployed into Ukraine in mid-2022, as they have been crucial in targeting Russian positions and logistics deep into occupied territories.

Moreover, ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), long-range precision missiles that can target in excess of 300 km, were approved for use by Ukraine as of early 2024.