Vladimir Putin is trying to stop the U.S. from sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine by warning it would destroy improving Moscow-Washington ties, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) which has published a map showing which parts of Russia could be targeted.
The Washington, DC think tank referred to an interview Putin gave in which he linked improving U.S.-Russia ties with American military support for Ukraine.
The ISW’s map shows how the provision of Tomahawks could be a game changer for Ukraine, allowing for it to strike deep into Russian territory. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matters
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration is discussing Kyiv’s request for Tomahawk missiles—a prospect which has alarmed the Kremlin and its propagandists. Tomahawks have a range of up to 1,600-miles, which surpasses other Western missiles Ukraine uses such as Storm Shadows or ATACMS, and so could be a game change in its fight.
The ISW suggests that Putin is trying to stop the delivery of the weapons by making the same arguments over the threat of escalation that it had made for previous Western deliveries of weapons.
What To Know
Washington providing Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles would destroy the slight warming in ties between Russia and the U.S., Putin said in an interview with the Russia 1 TV channel.
Speaking at the Valdai forum which discusses Kremlin policy, Putin had said earlier that the supply of these missiles to Ukraine would not change the battlefield calculus. He added that Kyiv would not be able to use these missiles without the participation of the U.S. military, so they would mark an escalation, suggesting that this could merit a response.
Putin had earlier downplayed their effectiveness by saying Russian air defense would adapt to Tomahawk attacks and the long-range missiles wouldn’t influence what was happening on the battlefield.
But the ISW said the Kremlin is trying to stop the U.S. from providing Tomahawk missiles because it wants to preserve the sanctuary that Russia enjoys in its rear. It is subjected to Ukrainian drone strikes but their current payloads are limited.
Tomahawks would allow Ukraine to damage or destroy key military assets such as the Shahed drone factory in Yelabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, or the Engels-2 Air Base in Saratov Oblast, according to the ISW, whose map shows these locations.
The ISW said at least 1,945 Russian military objects are within range of the 1,600 mile variant Tomahawk and at least 1,655 within range of the 1,000 mile version.
The ISW said that Putin’s comment was the latest attempt by the Russian president to stop the Trump administration from supplying the missiles to Ukraine and that he had made similar arguments ahead of the supply of ATACMS missiles, F-16 jets and Abrams tanks.
What People Are Saying
The Institute for the Study of War: “The Kremlin is trying to prevent the United States from providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine in order to retain the sanctuary that Russia enjoys in its rear.”
The think tank added: “Ukraine likely can significantly degrade Russia’s front line battlefield performance by targeting a vulnerable subset of rear support areas that sustain and support Russia’s front line operations.”
What Happens Next
Trump has not made a final decision on Tomahawks and questions remain over how they would be supplied if the plan was green lit, and whether Moscow would step up its rhetoric over escalation and prompt a Russian response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week Russia will respond “appropriately” if Trump approves sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
