Ukraine argues missiles would compel Russia to take Donald Trump’s calls for negotiations to end war more seriously
The US president, Donald Trump, will discuss the possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting at the White House on Friday. It will be the fourth face-to-face meeting for Trump and Zelenskyy since the Republican returned to office in January, and their second in less than a month.
Tomahawk land attack missiles, first used in combat in 1991, are long-range, guided cruise missiles typically launched from sea to attack targets in deep-strike missions. The longest range variant, the nuclear-capable Block II, entered service in 1983 and had a range of up to 1,550 miles (2,500km). Modern conventional variants have a range of 995 miles (1,600km). They fly low to the ground at a speed of 550 miles an hour.
The missiles are 6.1 metres long, with a 2.5 metre wing span, and weigh about 1,510kg. They cost an estimated $1.3m (£1m) each.
Supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would significantly expand its strike capabilities, enabling it to hit targets deep inside Russian territory, including military bases, logistics hubs, airfields and command centres that are currently beyond reach, with accurate, destructive munitions. The Institute for the Study of War estimates that there are hundreds of Russian military targets within range of Tomahawks.
