“Hopefully we can end the war without thinking about Tomahawks,” Trump said when asked by journalists whether Ukraine will actually receive the cruise missile. This indicates that a delivery has been parked for the time being, pending a new round of talks in Hungary, although it will take at least two months before the weapon can be deployed after the green light.
During the press moment, Trump mentioned three things that will have made his guest less than optimistic. First, he described the delivery of Tomahawk missiles itself as “an escalation.”
Trump: ‘Putin wants peace’
In addition, the president once again stated that he is convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants peace. “I think Putin wants to end the war,” Trump said. The Republican also emphasized that the US itself needs the weapon.
The withdrawal move comes the day after a long telephone conversation between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. It was the Kremlin that initiated the bell, which decided to meet in Hungary within two weeks for further discussions about the war. The Russians were clearly alarmed by Trump’s suggestion to supply Kiev with the feared cruise missiles.
Tomahawk missiles high on Kiev’s wish list
The Russian return to the negotiating table was exactly what the Americans intended. After the euphoria of the breakthrough in the war in Gaza, Trump had spoken out loud that he now also wanted to continue with the fight in Ukraine. The Tomahawk missiles, which are high on Kiev’s wish list, have proven to be the perfect means of pressure.
According to Trump, he told Putin to consider providing “several thousand” Tomahawks to Ukraine. This would allow the besieged country to hit Russian targets far beyond Moscow, including military installations and oil refineries. The American side has emphasized that the door to delivery has not closed.
Trump and Zelensky. © ANP/HH
However, it sounds from Europe that the US should stand firm with the Tomahawk threat to maintain pressure on the Russians. That was also Zelensky’s message. “We want peace, Putin does not. That is why the pressure must remain,” he said.
Kiev offers to supply drones to the US in exchange for long-range weapons such as the Tomahawk.
Does Trump allow himself to be bullied?
There are concerns that the American president will again be deceived by Putin, as happened at the summit in Alaska. Even then, the Russian ruler took the pressure off by coming to talk, without actually moving. Trump himself saw it differently on Friday. He insisted that “certain guidelines” have been established in Alaska.
The US has approximately 4,000 Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 2,500 kilometers. This not only allows targets to be hit far beyond Moscow, but they are also difficult to intercept because they fly low and fast.
In recent years, US forces have deployed hundreds of Tomahawks, including against Iran and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The current defense budget only provides for the replacement purchase of a few dozen units.
Putin and Trump got along great in Alaska earlier this year. © ANP/HH
In American defense circles, the brakes have been put on the brakes after Trump’s suggested delivery to Ukraine. Within the Pentagon it is stated that the US desperately needs the weapon in view of the threat posed by China. Trump’s comment to Putin about supplying Kiev with “thousands” of Tomahawks should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.
Beijing is tightening its thumbscrews
Interestingly, Beijing has recently tightened the thumbscrews on the US in the supply of scarce raw materials. These may no longer be used for military purposes. This affects, among other things, the production of the Tomahawk missiles, which contain magnets for the control system.
Trump made it clear on Friday that he wants peace in Ukraine, partly because the war is consuming many American weapons and ammunition, even though Washington now sells them through Europe. Evil tongues claim that this is one reason why China is pushing Moscow in the background to continue the fight. This prevents the US from fully focusing on the Far East.