Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev cautioned on Monday that the potential supply of U.S. Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could have negative consequences for all parties involved, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump. Medvedev highlighted the challenge of distinguishing between Tomahawk missiles equipped with nuclear warheads and those with conventional payloads once they are launched, echoing a similar sentiment expressed by President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson.
Expressing concerns on Telegram, Medvedev hinted at a possible nuclear response from Moscow in the event of such actions. Trump, reiterating his stance on Sunday, suggested that he might provide long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv if Putin does not cease the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the potential consequences for Russia should the situation escalate.
In response to Trump’s statements, Medvedev questioned the credibility of the threat, drawing parallels to past incidents like the positioning of nuclear submarines near Russia as a show of force. Putin has firmly opposed the idea of arming Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, citing the destructive impact it could have on U.S.-Russian relations, with the missiles capable of reaching targets across European Russia, including Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that any Tomahawk missiles provided would be used exclusively for military purposes and not directed at civilians in Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refrained from providing additional comments on Monday, reiterating Moscow’s stance that any deployment of such weapons would necessitate U.S. involvement.