Pentagon Backs Tomahawk Transfer to Ukraine as Trump Weighs Final Decision

Overview

• CNN reported that the Pentagon gave the White House the green light to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles and concluded U.S. stockpiles would not be harmed.
• The final approval remains with President Trump, who, according to Axios, told President Zelensky the U.S. was not intending to provide the missiles at this time due to a focus on diplomacy.
• Despite the reluctance, U.S. officials developed rapid-delivery options and fielded ground-based launch solutions tailored for Ukraine’s circumstances.
• European allies were encouraged by the Pentagon’s assessment on inventories, and officials were surprised by the president’s subsequent stance.
• President Vladimir Putin warned that sending long-range weapons would mark an escalation and threatened a severe response if strikes hit deep inside Russia.