Ukraine War: Trump Weighs Missile Delivery Decision
President Trump weighs Tomahawk missile delivery to Ukraine while seeking to avoid escalation with Russia. Ukrainian forces report successful strikes on Russian military infrastructure. The conflict continues with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight.
Russia first invaded Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions in 2014. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion. The war continues to cause substantial military losses and severely impacts civilians.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants to know Ukraine's plans for American-made Tomahawk missiles before potentially approving their delivery. He emphasizes he does not want to escalate the conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has requested that the U.S. sell the missiles to European countries for onward transfer. With a range of 2,500 kilometers, Moscow would be within striking distance from Ukrainian territory.
Putin has warned that such a delivery would damage relations between Moscow and Washington. Trump previously rejected Ukraine's requests for long-range rockets and now says he has "sort of made a decision" on the matter.
Ukrainian military forces report they attacked and hit a major Russian explosives factory in Dzerzhinsk and an oil terminal on the Crimean peninsula. The strategic strikes target Russian military logistics and supply chains.
The missile debate highlights the delicate balance Western leaders face between supporting Ukraine and avoiding direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia. Both sides appear to be testing boundaries through these carefully calculated military and diplomatic moves.