US Weighs Long-Range Missile Aid for Ukraine Amid Escalating Conflict

Fri Oct 10 2025 14:52:53 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Ukraine continues to face intensified attacks from Russia, US officials including Vice-President JD Vance hint at a potential supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles. The decision ultimately rests with President Trump, who has indicated a shift in attitude toward Ukraine’s military capabilities.

The U.S. is considering Ukraine's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, according to Vice-President JD Vance. This move comes as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its military response to Russian advances. President Trump has the final say on this decision, and recent comments from U.S. officials reflect a notable change in America's stance on Ukraine's potential to reclaim lost territories. The ongoing conflict has seen increased attacks from Moscow, prompting calls for advanced weapon systems from Western allies.

The US is considering a request by Ukraine for long-range Tomahawk missiles, US Vice-President JD Vance has said.

However, Vance added President Donald Trump would be making the final determination on the matter.

Kyiv has long been calling for its Western partners to provide it with weapons that could hit major Russian cities far from the front line, arguing that they would help Ukraine seriously weaken Russia's military industry and bring the war to an end.

If the cost of continuing the war for Moscow is too high, it will be forced to start peace talks, deputy defence minister Ivan Havryliuk told the BBC.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down Vance's suggestion, saying there was no panacea that can change the situation on the front for the Kyiv regime.

Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), which would put Moscow within reach for Ukraine.

While Vance remained ambivalent about Ukraine's request for Tomahawks, the US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested Trump had authorized strikes deep into Russian territory.

After repeatedly expressing skepticism about Ukraine's potential, last week Trump said Kyiv could win all of Ukraine back in its original form. This statement surprised Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Sunday, a massive 12-hour strike involving hundreds of drones and nearly 50 missiles left four people dead in Kyiv and at least 70 injured.

To protect its skies, Kyiv is asking for at least 10 units of Patriot surface-to-air defence systems.

Havryliuk mentioned progress in this direction but stressed that time is essential as Ukraine aims to bolster its military capabilities amid ongoing threats.