Overview
- U.S. and European officials say the Joint Staff told the White House that transferring the long‑range missiles would not deplete American inventories.
- Trump voiced reluctance publicly and told Volodymyr Zelensky in private that the U.S. would not provide the missiles for now after a call with Vladimir Putin, according to officials.
- Moscow warned the weapons could reach major Russian cities and claimed limited battlefield effect, while NATO’s Mark Rutte noted Ukraine would need months of training before use.
- Key operational questions remain over training and launch methods, with Ukraine likely relying on land-based systems developed by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps or indigenous workarounds.
- The administration has prepared contingency logistics for rapid delivery if authorized, as European allies push for deeper Ukrainian strike options and Washington tightens sanctions on Russian oil firms.