Overview
- The Joint Staff told the White House in early October that sending Tomahawks would not strain U.S. inventories, according to U.S. and European officials.
- Trump signaled reluctance during and after his Washington meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and, following a call with Vladimir Putin, privately said the missiles would not be provided for now, officials said.
- Administration plans are in place to move the missiles quickly if the president authorizes the transfer, according to sources familiar with the preparations.
- U.S. defense officials are working through training and launch questions, noting Ukraine would likely need land-based options even as Marines and Army ground launchers exist.
- The roughly 1,000-mile-range missiles would enable strikes deep inside Russia, including energy infrastructure, a capability that Moscow warns would damage U.S.-Russia relations.