Overview
- Defense officials told CNN the White House has a green light to send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, pending President Trump’s approval.
- Trump has signaled reluctance to approve the handover, saying he does not want to give away weapons he considers essential to U.S. defense.
- Tomahawks could let Ukraine strike targets up to roughly 1,600–2,500 kilometers away, though effective use would require land-based launch systems and integration.
- Reuters and Ukrainian officials report Russia has launched the 9M729 Oreschnik repeatedly since August, including a flight on October 5 exceeding 1,200 kilometers, which Kyiv denounces as use of an INF-banned missile.
- Ukraine continues to press for long-range firepower as the SBU claims it destroyed an Oreschnik at Kapustin Yar in 2023, while Trump’s opaque comments about possible U.S. nuclear tests have heightened strategic unease.