Senior Ukrainian officials visiting the U.S. have met with major U.S. defense companies, including the manufacturer of the Tomahawk missile that Kyiv has repeatedly requested.
Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, Rustem Umerov—formerly Ukraine’s defense minister, now the head of the country’s national security and defense council—as well as Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna met with representatives from Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, said Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff.
Raytheon’s Tomahawk cruise missile has an estimated range of roughly 1,550 miles—and Ukraine wants it. While the missile wouldn’t be a gamechanger in itself, particularly not in the small numbers the White House would likely send if it greenlights the transfer, Tomahawks would still add significantly to how well Kyiv could hit vital Russian assets far over the border.
“Their tech is saving lives: F-16s and advanced air defense systems are shielding Ukrainian skies, while their offensive solutions strongly support our forces on the front line,” Yermak said of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Lockheed Martin is the main manufacturer of the F-16 fighter jet, the fourth-generation Western aircraft Ukraine first received more than a year ago.
Raytheon touts the Tomahawk missile as able to get past an enemy’s layered air defenses. Russia’s rough equivalent is its Kalibr cruise missile, which it has frequently fired at Ukraine.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested in recent days he may be willing to give Tomahawks to Ukraine, in what appears to be a result of increasing frustration with the Kremlin and the glacial pace his administration is making in brokering a ceasefire or peace deal. Observers say Trump is likely using the threat of providing Tomahawks to Kyiv to leverage Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations which have stalled, despite an in-person summit in Alaska in August.
Russia says it will damage relations with the U.S. if Trump greenlights the transfer, and that it would be an “escalation” of the conflict because Kyiv would need U.S. assistance to use the cruise missiles.
“I might say ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,'” Trump said on Sunday, shortly after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the second time in as many days. Zelensky said the two leaders had discussed “strengthening” Ukraine, including the country’s long-range capabilities.
The Ukrainian leader is expected to join his country’s delegation in Washington and meet with Trump to propose what Zelensky called a “series of steps” focusing on air defense and “long-range capabilities.”
“Each downed Russian missile or destroyed enemy command post proves the quality of U.S. weapons and the professionalism,” Yermak said in a post to social media.
“We need Tomahawks,” Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of Ukraine’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, told Newsweek earlier this week. “I don’t believe in silver bullets,” he said, “but it might be extremely important.”
Dmitry Medvedev, the current deputy chair of Russia’s security council, said on Monday the “delivery of these missiles could end badly for everyone,” before adding: “Most of all, for Trump himself.”
“Mr President, send our friends the Tomahawk missiles!,” Republican Representative Don Bacon said on Tuesday.
No final decision appears to have been made, but the The New York Times reported the Pentagon has drafted plans for sending Tomahawks, should Trump give the go-ahead.
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