Trump warns Russia that it may send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if the war is not settled soon

“I might say, ‘Look: If this war doesn’t get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawk missiles,'” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he headed to Israel. “The tomahawk is an incredible weapon, a very offensive weapon. And frankly, Russia doesn’t need that.”

“I might tell them that if the war is not settled, we may end it,” Trump said. He added: “We may not do it, but we may do it. I think it is appropriate to bring it up.”

His statements came after Trump spoke by phone earlier Sunday with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said he mentioned the possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles during that conversation.

“Do they want Tomahawk missiles to go in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said of Russia. “I think I might talk to Russia about that.” He added, “The Tomahawk missiles are a new aggressive step.”

His suggestions came Russia after it attacked Electricity network in Ukraine overnight, part of Ongoing campaign To paralyze Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter. Moscow also expressed “deep concern” about the possibility of the United States supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Putin himself had previously indicated that the United States supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles would seriously harm relations between Moscow and Washington.

For his part, Zelensky described his recent call with Trump as “very productive,” and said that the two men discussed strengthening Ukraine’s “air defence, resilience and long-range capabilities,” along with “details related to the energy sector.”

In recent weeks, Trump has taken a tougher approach with Putin, after the Russian leader refused to enter into direct talks with Zelensky about easing the fighting.

Last month, Trump announced that he now believes Ukraine can recover It lost all territory to Russia – a radical shift from the Republicans’ frequent move He called on Kyiv to make concessions till the end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

But the US president, at least so far, has resisted Zelensky’s calls for Tomahawk missiles. The weapons system would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory and exert the kind of pressure on Putin that Zelensky says is necessary to get the Russians to seriously engage in peace talks.

Trump said on Air Force One that “I really think Putin would look great if he could get this settled” and that “it wouldn’t be good for him” if that wasn’t the case.