Putin seeks to block US transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine – ISW
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to use various approaches to influence US decisions, in particular to dissuade Washington from supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and to achieve concessions in the war, according to a report by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The report referred to Putin's interview on October 5, in which he stated that US supplies of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would destroy the "emerging positive trend" in relations between Moscow and Washington.
According to experts, this message indicates the president's attempt to link the prospect of improving US-Russia relations to limiting US support for Ukraine.
Analysts believe that Putin continues to offer Washington certain benefits not directly related to the war in Ukraine in exchange for concessions on this particular issue.
ISW is convinced that Putin is working toward closer ties between the US and Russia, in particular by pressuring the Trump administration to engage in arms control negotiations, thereby seeking to achieve results in Ukraine that are favorable to Moscow.
Disruption of the Tomahawk transfer
In particular, according to experts, the Russian president is promoting various rhetorical lines in an attempt to dissuade the Trump administration from providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
The Institute recalled that on October 2, Putin warned the US against selling this type of missile to Ukraine, claiming that American forces would have to "directly participate" in Tomahawk strikes.
According to the president, such strikes would mean a "new stage of escalation," but at the same time, "would not change the battlefield situation."
Analysts noted that Putin had used similar arguments earlier, when the US was considering supplying ATACMS missiles, F-16 fighter jets, and Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
"Putin appears to be trying different approaches – from threatening worsening bilateral relations to downplaying the missiles' usefulness – to influence US decision-making," the ISW report stated.
US considers supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine
At the end of September, several Western media outlets reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, appealed to US President Donald Trump to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Washington is currently considering this issue, but the final decision is expected to be made personally by Trump.
Meanwhile, sources cited by Reuters expressed doubts about transferring these missiles to Ukraine, as US stockpiles are limited and designated for other purposes.
At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with threats to the reports about the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
