MOSCOW – Russia warned on Monday that it was analyzing the risk of the United States supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, a move Kremlin officials said would represent a "serious escalation" and could provoke a severe response.
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The warning came after the U.S. Vice President stated on Sunday that Washington is actively considering a Ukrainian request for the advanced weaponry, which is capable of striking deep into Russian territory.
While the U.S. President has not yet made a final decision and remains wary of escalating the Ukraine war into a direct confrontation with Russia, the fact that such a move is under consideration signals Washington's growing frustration with President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire following a U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska last month.
The Tomahawk cruise missile has a range of up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles)—far enough to strike Moscow and much of European Russia if launched from Ukraine. The potential threat was underscored by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who issued a taunt to Kremlin officials last week, telling them they should "know where the bomb shelters are."
Russia Demands Clarity on 'Scenarios'
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow was raising critical questions about the command and control of such weapons.
"The question arises... who would be launching these missiles? Can the Ukrainians do it alone, or would American servicemen have to do it?" Peskov said when asked about the Vice President's comments.
"Who determines the targets for these missiles? Is it the American side or the Ukrainians themselves?" Peskov added, stating that a "very deep analysis" of these scenarios was required.
The questions highlight Russia's core concern: any U.S. involvement in targeting or launching such weapons deep into Russian territory could be interpreted as a direct act of war. President Putin has previously warned that Russia reserves the right to strike military facilities in countries that allow their territory or weapons to be used for attacks against Russia.
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the defense committee in Russia's parliament, was more direct, telling the Mayak news outlet that any American military specialists assisting Ukraine in launching Tomahawks against Russia would become legitimate targets for Moscow.
Conflicting Messages
While Russia issued stern warnings, some U.S. officials signaled a shift in strategy. Keith Kellogg, a U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, said Sunday that the President had hinted that Kyiv could now carry out long-range strikes into Russia. "Embrace the deep strike. There are no sanctuaries," Kellogg told Fox News.
Despite the high-level threats, the Kremlin also projected an image of indifference, with Peskov claiming the missiles would not alter the fundamental dynamics of the war.
"Even if this happens, no solution can change the current situation for the Kyiv regime... And whether it is Tomahawks or other missiles, they will not be able to change the course of events," Peskov said, alluding to the slow but steady advances Russian forces are making in eastern Ukraine.
Adding to the ominous tone, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Monday that Europe "simply cannot withstand a war with Russia," but warned that "the possibility of a fatal accident is always there."
