Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that possible U.S. supplies of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine could mark a significant escalation point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, although he asserted it would not alter the situation on the front lines.
Peskov said that some versions of the Tomahawk are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, adding that if such missiles are provided to Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has already clearly outlined Moscow's response.
Peskov also addressed the state of negotiations, noting that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine have been paused for an extended period, and responsibility for this does not lie with Moscow.
He expressed the Russian side's belief that U.S. President Donald Trump still maintains the political will for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis. However, no major steps have been taken by Russia and the US to resume diplomatic dialogue.
Commenting on Western policies towards Russia, Peskov declared that Moscow will take countermeasures in response to Brussels' decision to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the European Union (EU).
He warned that if the Western countries proceed with the illegal seizure of Russian assets, Russia will hold the initiators accountable. He said the EU's policy towards Russia was being held "hostage" by Poland and the Baltic states.
The statements follow remarks by President Trump on Monday afternoon. When questioned by reporters at the White House, Trump said he had "sort of made a decision" regarding the supplying of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He added that he wanted to figure out how they would use them, and where they would launch them to.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance told media recently that his country is considering a plan for NATO European members to fund the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles for Ukraine. The missiles are capable of reaching Moscow, the Russian capital.
In response, Putin said that while providing Ukraine with long-range and precision-strike weapons like the Tomahawk would not change the battlefield dynamics, it would damage Russia-US relations, undermining the recent positive momentum.
The Tomahawk cruise missile is an American-made, subsonic, long-range weapon typically launched from naval vessels and submarines, primarily used by the navy, with land-based variants also existing. Its maximum range exceeds 2,000 kilometers. Analysis by the Ukrainian Kyiv Independent suggests that if Ukraine acquires these missiles, major Russian cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg would fall within their strike range.
Earlier, President Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had formally requested U.S. permission for Ukraine to use Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Russia warns of major escalation if US supplies Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
