CaliToday (08/10/2025): A high-stakes diplomatic promise made in a private phone call and subsequently broken by Vladimir Putin has personally infuriated Donald Trump, potentially pushing the United States to unleash one of its most formidable weapons into the Ukrainian conflict, according to Kurt Volker, Trump's former special envoy for Ukraine.
 |
| Putin lied to Trump and made him look weak,' former US envoy to Ukraine says |
In a stunning analysis provided to Euronews, Volker revealed that Putin's duplicity has made Trump "look weak," transforming the geopolitical calculus of the war into a personal issue for the U.S. President and making the once-unlikely delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv a distinct possibility.
'He Made Trump Look Weak'
The saga began in the wake of the landmark August summit in Alaska between Trump and Putin. On August 19, just days after that meeting, President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders at the White House. During this gathering, seeking to cement his role as a dealmaker, Trump stepped away to place a direct call to Putin.
"Trump is frustrated. Putin promised him he would negotiate and meet with Zelenskyy," Volker explained. In that crucial phone call, with European leaders waiting, Putin seemingly agreed to a face-to-face meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart.
But the promise was hollow. In the weeks that followed, the Kremlin repeatedly dismissed any possibility of a presidential meeting, effectively stonewalling the diplomatic path Trump believed he had forged. This public reversal was not just a diplomatic failure; it was a personal slight.
"Putin lied to him and now Trump is irritated," Volker stated. "He made Trump look weak, and Trump doesn't like looking weak, so this is now a personal issue for him."
The Tomahawk Calculus: Pressure, Pride, and Profit
According to Volker, this personal sense of betrayal is the primary driver behind the administration's new consideration of sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. The discussion serves multiple purposes in Trump's playbook.
First, it is a tool of immense pressure. Volker believes that merely putting the long-range missiles on the table is a strategic move designed to "re-engage" Putin and "make him cut a deal," something the Russian leader is currently avoiding.
Second, it is a matter of pride. By demonstrating a willingness to escalate, Trump can counteract the image of weakness Putin's reversal created.
Finally, Volker points to Trump's famously transactional worldview. "Trump is transactional; he's all about money, and if somebody is paying, what does he care," he said, suggesting that a multi-billion dollar missile sale is a powerful motivator. This transactional nature extends to his endgame vision: "If the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends, then Trump's priority is that he can lift sanctions (on Russia) and make money."
Moscow's Playbook: A Mix of Threats and Inducements
From Moscow's perspective, the threat of Tomahawks is being met with a familiar strategy of psychological warfare. In a recent interview, Putin warned that supplying the missiles would "lead to the destruction" of the "emerging positive trend" in U.S.-Russian relations.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) identified this as a Kremlin tactic to deter Washington by linking potential improvements in the bilateral relationship to American concessions on Ukraine.
Putin has also mixed these inducements with direct threats. On October 2, he claimed U.S. personnel would have to directly participate in targeting the missiles, which would mark a "new stage of escalation." However, as the ISW notes, Putin made nearly identical arguments—and empty threats—when the U.S. was considering sending Abrams tanks, F-16 jets, and ATACMS missiles.
"Putin appears to be trying different approaches – from threatening worsening bilateral relations to downplaying the missiles' usefulness – to influence US decision-making," the ISW concluded.
A Game-Changer for Kyiv's Deep Strike Strategy
For Ukraine, the stakes could not be higher. Tomahawk missiles have long been at the top of Kyiv's wish list for one simple reason: they would completely transform its ability to strike deep within Russia.
With an operational range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometers and a powerful 450-kilogram warhead, they dwarf Ukraine's current capabilities. Western-supplied missiles like the Storm Shadow are limited to a range of about 250 kilometers. For deeper strikes, Kyiv relies on domestically produced drones whose small 50-100 kilogram payloads limit their destructive power.
The potential impact is enormous. Over the past few months, Ukrainian drone attacks have already proven devastatingly effective, reportedly halting up to 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity by the end of September. With Tomahawks, Ukraine could systematically target critical military, logistical, and economic infrastructure far beyond the front lines, crippling Russia's ability to sustain its war effort.