According to The Washington Post, Trump explored the possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles, the same weapons fired against Iranian targets last month. If fired from Ukraine, these could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg, and they were included in discussion as late as Friday.
However, sources say the Tomahawks are off the delivery list for now. "They could be deployed later if Trump wants even more leverage," the media outlet wrote.
Meanwhile, an informed source stated that Trump is prepared to authorize the use of 18 long-range ATACMS missiles now in Ukraine at their full range of 300 kilometers. While these missiles cannot reach Moscow or St. Petersburg, they would enable strikes on military bases, airfields, and supply depots deep inside Russia that are now out of range. The aid package might also include more ATACMS missiles.
Read also: Rutte briefs Ukrainian President on meeting with TrumpPentagon officials have for months urged deeper strikes into Russia using ATACMS.
Trump's determination to squeeze Putin was conveyed in a conversation last week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a source familiar with administration discussions, Trump decided to escalate for three reasons.
First, he believed that Putin was disrespecting him, feigning a readiness to make peace but ignoring the U.S. president's call for a ceasefire.
Second, he saw the efficacy of U.S. military power in the use of B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles against Iran.
And third, Trump thought Putin would only negotiate if threatened with greater force.
Late on Monday, Zelensky held a phone call with Trump.
Just hours earlier, Trump had met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and stated that the alliance had agreed to provide Ukraine with military assistance worth billions of U.S. dollars.
Photo: The White House
