Likelihood of delivering Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine remains uncertain: official insights
The prospect of supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles continues to face significant obstacles, primarily because the existing stockpiles are designated for the U.S.
Navy and other strategic needs.
According to Reuters, citing sources familiar with U.S.
officials and experts, Kyiv’s request for such missile systems capable of striking deep into Russian territory, including Moscow, raises complex military and political questions.
Vice President Joe Biden recently announced that the Biden administration is reconsidering the possibility of providing Ukraine with weapons that can hit targets deep within Russia.
Nonetheless, sources within the government and defense circles cast doubt on the quick transfer of Tomahawk missiles with a range of 2,500 kilometers.
They emphasize that the U.S.
has sufficient reserves of this widely-used missile, primarily employed for land and maritime targets.
Conversely, it is conceivable that Kyiv might be offered alternative systems with shorter ranges or, perhaps, assistance from European allies.
In light of this situation, President Donald Trump has recently shifted his tone regarding the Ukraine conflict, suggesting a potential return of all occupied territories and describing the Russian military as a ‘paper tiger’, indicating possible increased support through new weapon systems.
The creation of a new financial mechanism — the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) — enables the U.S.
and allies to financially facilitate the supply of modern weapons, including missile systems, from U.S.
inventories.
Enhanced Ukrainian strike capabilities, such as gaining access to Tomahawk missiles, could profoundly alter the military balance by enabling precise strikes on critical Russian infrastructure, including military bases, logistics hubs, airports, and command centers, currently beyond reach.
However, Moscow warns that further deliveries of such weaponry could escalate the conflict to a dangerous new level.
According to Pentagon budget documents, the U.S.
Navy has already purchased nearly 9,000 Tomahawk missiles at an average cost of $1.3 million each, with ongoing production since the mid-1980s, averaging 55 to 90 missiles annually.
In 2026, the U.S.
plans to procure an additional 57 missile systems.