Trump Evaluates Supply of Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine, Says Vance

Fri Oct 17 2025 01:27:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

US Vice-President JD Vance indicated that Trump is considering a request from Ukraine for long-range Tomahawk missiles to bolster their defense against Russian attacks.

In a significant development, US Vice-President JD Vance announced that President Trump is evaluating Ukraine's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. This discussion comes as Ukraine aims to enhance its military capabilities to target Russian cities and potentially force a conclusion to the ongoing conflict. Despite skepticism from Russian officials regarding the impact of such missiles, Ukrainian officials remain optimistic about their chances in the war with heightened military support.

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 in his remarks, the US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, seemed to suggest Trump had already authorised strikes deep into Russian territory.

Vance and Kellogg's comments match the US administration's recent change of tone in regard to the war. After repeatedly expressing scepticism that Ukraine could continue to hold its own against Russia, last week Trump said Kyiv could win all of Ukraine back in its original form – a shift that reportedly even surprised Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

During a recent attack on Kyiv, a massive 12-hour bombardment left four people dead and at least 70 injured, underscoring the dire situation Ukraine faces.

To protect its skies from missile threats, Kyiv has requested at least 10 units of Patriot surface-to-air defence systems. Ukraine's deputy defense minister indicated there is some movement regarding the promised systems, emphasizing the need for better air defense amidst increasing Russian drone and missile attacks.

As the war continues, the reliance on allies for military support remains critical for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen its defensive posture against ongoing Russian aggression and bring about potential negotiations for peace.