Trump Eyes Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine After Shift
🚨BREAKING: Trump Considers Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine – Moscow Within Strike Range as War Escalates
EXCLUSIVE: JD Vance Confirms Long-Range Weapon Request Under Review – Could Target Russian Cities 1,500 Miles From Front
WASHINGTON D.C., September 30, 2025 — In a dramatic escalation that could fundamentally change the Ukraine war, Vice President JD Vance has confirmed President Trump is considering providing Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking Moscow itself.
The revelation comes as Russia unleashes its most brutal aerial assaults yet, killing four people in Kyiv during a 12-hour bombardment involving hundreds of drones and nearly 50 missiles on Sunday alone.
Trump’s potential decision represents a stunning reversal from earlier reluctance to provide Ukraine with weapons capable of hitting deep inside Russia.
⚡ THE GAME-CHANGER: 1,500 Miles of Strike Capability
Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles) – putting not just border regions but Moscow’s heart within Ukraine’s reach.
Vice President Vance made the announcement Sunday but was careful to note: President Trump “would be making the final determination on the matter.”
Meanwhile, US Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg went even further on Fox News, suggesting authorization may have already been granted in specific cases:
“The answer is yes, use the ability to hit deep, there are no such things as sanctuaries.”
Translation? The days of Moscow being immune from Ukrainian strikes may be ending.
Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Ivan Havryliuk explained the strategic logic to the BBC:
“If the cost of continuing the war for Moscow is too high, it will be forced to start peace talks.”
💥 RUSSIA’S DISMISSIVE RESPONSE: “No Panacea”
The Kremlin predictably downplayed the threat.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov scoffed that “there’s no panacea that can change the situation on the front for the Kyiv regime.”
“Whether it’s Tomahawks or other missiles, they won’t be able to change the dynamic,” he added.
But Moscow’s dismissiveness may mask genuine concern. For nearly three years, Russia has bombed Ukrainian cities with impunity while its own major population centers remained untouched.
Tomahawks would shatter that asymmetry. Russian military-industrial complexes, command centers, and logistics hubs deep inside Russia would suddenly be vulnerable.
🔥 TRUMP’S STUNNING REVERSAL: From Skeptic to Supporter
This represents a remarkable evolution in Trump’s Ukraine policy.
Just months ago, Trump was telling President Zelensky bluntly: “You don’t have the cards. Your people are dying.”
He proposed territorial swaps and pushed for quick negotiations – even if they meant Ukraine losing land.
Last week? Complete 180-degree turn.
Trump declared Ukraine could “win all of Ukraine back in its original form” – a statement that reportedly stunned even Zelensky.
What changed Trump’s mind? According to sources close to the president, it’s Putin’s behavior.
Trump has grown increasingly irritated by Russia’s surface willingness to discuss peace versus the reality of relentless bombardments of Ukrainian cities.
Sunday’s 12-hour assault killing four civilians in Kyiv? That’s exactly the kind of attack that’s hardening Trump’s position.
💔 THE HORRIFIC TOLL: Russia’s Escalating Aerial Terror
The numbers are staggering and getting worse:
📊 Sunday’s attack alone:
- 12-hour bombardment
- Hundreds of drones deployed
- Nearly 50 missiles fired
- 4 dead, 70+ injured in Kyiv
- 31 drones broke through defenses
- Majority hit residential buildings and civilian facilities
📊 September’s record:
- Over 800 drones and missiles fired by Russia
- Highest number since full-scale invasion began February 2022
- Interception rates dropping as attacks intensify
Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Havryliuk warned the BBC that Russia is “only going to further increase the intensity and severity” of aerial attacks.
The attacks aren’t just more frequent – they’re more sophisticated.
⚔️ THE EVOLUTION OF DEATH: Russia’s Upgraded Drone Arsenal
When Iranian-made Shahed drones first appeared in 2023, Ukraine could easily jam them using electronic warfare systems.
Not anymore.
Havryliuk explained the terrifying evolution: “Today, they use 16-channel antennas in order to pass through our jamming zones.”
Russia is constantly upgrading its drone technology specifically to defeat Ukrainian countermeasures. It’s a deadly technological arms race that Ukraine is struggling to keep pace with.
🛡️ UKRAINE’S DESPERATE PLEA: 10 Patriot Systems Needed NOW
To defend against ballistic missiles, Ukraine has requested at least 10 Patriot surface-to-air defense systems from Western partners.
Patriots can detect and intercept incoming missiles – but Ukraine doesn’t have nearly enough of them.
Trump promised Patriot systems over the summer. Asked whether they’re actually coming, Havryliuk was cautiously optimistic:
“There is some movement in this direction” – but wouldn’t provide specifics.
The problem is simple math: The more projectiles Russia fires, the harder it is to intercept them all. Even with perfect technology, Ukraine’s current defense systems are simply overwhelmed by volume.
🌍 EUROPE’S STAKE: Russian Drones Already Breaching NATO
This isn’t just Ukraine’s problem anymore.
Havryliuk made a pointed warning: Strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses is “an investment into security of the entire Europe.”
He’s not exaggerating. Russian drones have already violated Polish airspace – a NATO member – in recent weeks.
“Strengthening our air defense system” would stop Russian drones before they reach EU countries and disrupt “Putin’s plans to constantly scare Europe,” Havryliuk said.
Translation? If the West doesn’t help Ukraine shoot down drones over Kyiv, those same drones may eventually be flying over Warsaw, Berlin, or Paris.
🔧 UKRAINE’S DEFENSE INDUSTRY: Racing Against Time
Ukraine hasn’t been sitting idle waiting for Western weapons.
In the last three and a half years, Kyiv has developed a thriving domestic defense industry:
✅ Produces almost 100% of FPV drones it needs
✅ Manufactures up to 40% of front-line weapons domestically
✅ Significantly increased artillery shell and armored vehicle production
President Zelensky announced Monday that Ukraine would continue focusing on domestically produced drones and long-range missiles.
But there’s a catch: Ukraine still can’t produce the advanced air defense systems needed to protect its cities. For that, it remains dependent on Western allies.
💰 THE FUNDING MECHANISM: Europe Buying American Weapons for Ukraine
Earlier this year, Trump approved a new mechanism where European allies purchase US-made weapons for Ukraine.
So far, several European countries and Canada have pledged $2 billion (£1.5 billion).
Some weapons bought under this scheme have already arrived, Havryliuk confirmed, but “the process is slower than before.”
For Ukraine, time is everything. Every day without adequate air defenses means more civilian deaths, more infrastructure destroyed, more cities reduced to rubble.
🚀 THE STRATEGIC CALCULATION: Can Long-Range Weapons Force Peace?
Ukraine’s strategy is becoming clear:
Phase 1: Better air defense systems protect cities from Russian bombardment
Phase 2: Long-range weapons strike Russian military targets deep inside Russia
Phase 3: Combination of defensive protection and offensive capability forces Moscow to negotiate
Deputy Defense Minister Havryliuk summarized it: “Only together with our partners can we stop the Russian terror in the sky.”
The question is whether Trump will provide the Tomahawks that could make this strategy work.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE: Trump Holds All The Cards
JD Vance made clear that Trump – and Trump alone – will make the final call on Tomahawks.
The president faces competing pressures:
REASONS TO APPROVE: ✅ Punish Putin for continuing bombardments
✅ Give Ukraine genuine leverage in negotiations
✅ Show strength against Russian aggression
✅ Force Moscow to negotiate seriously
REASONS TO DENY: ❌ Risk of further escalation
❌ Putin’s potential response unpredictable
❌ Could complicate eventual peace talks
❌ Domestic political criticism
Trump’s decision will likely come down to his personal calculation: What does Putin respect – restraint or strength?
Based on Trump’s recent rhetoric shift toward supporting Ukraine’s full territorial restoration, the momentum appears to be building toward approval.
DEVELOPING STORY — Follow for updates on Trump’s decision regarding Tomahawk missiles and Ukraine’s defense needs…
