In the meeting, Zelenskyy pointed at Ukraine’s expertise in military drones, which it has developed extensively during its ongoing war with Russia. While Ukraine has thousands of military drones, the president said that Russia has the strong missiles that the US makes, referring specifically to the Tomahawk missiles.
Trump appeared receptive to the idea. Asked if the US would be interested in such a deal, he said, “We are.” He acknowledged the rise of drone warfare in recent years, noting: “We build our own drones, but we also buy drones from others, and they make a very good drone.”
What are Tomahawk missiles?
Tomahawks are long-range, precision-guided cruise missiles originally developed for sea-to-land strikes.
According to The Guardian, they are about 6.1 metres long, weigh roughly 1,510 kg, and have a wingspan of 2.5 metres. They fly at speeds of approximately 550 miles per hour.
The longest-range conventional variants can reach up to 995 miles (1,600 km), while nuclear-capable Block II variants have ranges up to 1,550 miles (2,500 km).
Each missile costs an estimated $1.3 million, reported The Guardian.
Ukraine argues that Tomahawks would allow its forces to target deep inside Russian territory, including military bases, airfields, command centres, and logistics hubs that are currently out of reach. The country has stated that acquiring such missiles could compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to take direct negotiations more seriously.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski noted that the size of Russia makes air defence coverage difficult, making Tomahawks particularly effective.
Currently, Ukraine has several western-supplied missiles, including US-made Atacms and GMLRS and UK and French-made Storm Shadows, with the Atacm offering a maximum range of 190 miles. Ukraine has also developed domestic missiles, such as the Flamingo, with a range of more than 1,000 miles, and the Neptune anti-ship missile, first unveiled in 2015.
Challenges in deploying Tomahawks
Tomahawks are typically launched from ships and submarines, platforms Ukraine does not possess. Land-launched variants like the Typhon exist but are in very limited supply, with only two known launchers available to the US Army, according to The Guardian.
A more mobile system, the X-Mav, was demonstrated recently but is also limited in number. Experts estimate that only 20-50 missiles are immediately available, restricting their effectiveness if launched in salvoes, which is generally recommended for maximum impact.
Trump’s position
In recent weeks, Trump had suggested he might provide Tomahawks to Ukraine. However, after a call with Putin on Thursday, he signalled caution. “We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too,” Trump said.
“We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean we can’t deplete our country.” Following the call, he announced plans to meet Putin in Budapest, Hungary, and indicated that negotiations between the two leaders and Zelenskyy might have to be conducted indirectly.
