The same diary London revealed that at that meeting in New York, Zelensky asked Trump to provide the cruise missiles Tomahawk, arguing that this would be the best way to get closer to the end of the war. The same news cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio to say that the US President was “very angry” that Vladimir Putin would not stop by ignoring his appeals. And that Trump’s change of tone for the theme should be seen by Europeans “as positively as possible.”
And what was Trump’s answer? According to The Wall Street JournalNo decision on the missiles has been made, but is also considered the transfer of other US systems launched from land and air, with reach of about 800 kilometers. Another missile in evaluation is Barracuda, a new missile with several configurations, and whose top model has a range of 900 kilometers. Its great advantage over Tomahawk is the price: about $ 200,000 per unit, when the US Navy has bought each Tomahawk at an average price of $ 1.3 million. But Tomahawk, in the service since the mid -1980s, has proven in war theaters for its effectiveness and how accurate it is. In addition, it has a range of up to 2500 kilometers and carries an explosive charge of 450 kilos, ten times more than the barracuda.
Not by chance, when Zelensky tried to convince the allies (and especially Joe Biden) from his victory plan, the Tomahawks were part of their ten points. With this missile, the Ukrainian forces could take a decisive blow to the Russian energy infrastructures, already shaken by drone attacks. According to a count of Financial Timesat least 16 of the 38 Russian refineries have been reached since August, some of which are repeated. Vladimir Putin’s regime, which feeds the war effort with the profit of oil and gas sales, is suffering huge losses, and oil -making failing to supply the domestic market regularly.
In addition, long -range missiles allow you to reach military targets more decisively than with drones, putting in check commands, paiós, logistics centers or air bases. This work was done to some extent by ATACMS ballistic missiles or Storm Shadow/Scalp cruise missiles, but their scarcity (and much smaller reach) prevent Russian advancement as intended. The Ukrainian drone industry has developed like no other, but the ability to destroy and the effectiveness of these devices is not comparable to that of a long-range missile. However, according to sources consulted by Reuters, the US military decision should be unfavorable, and they expected to claim the need to maintain the stock of a missile whose annual production is fixed in the dozens house.
Whether it is Tomahawk, Barracuda or Missile Type, it is certain that missiles will be sold under the new PURL mechanism, the English acronym for Ukraine priority requirements, scheme through which weapons are withdrawn from stocks US through funds from other NATO countries, which in turn deliver the war material to Kiev.
In parallel, the United States is preparing to provide information to support missile attacks, after Trump has given Green Light to Pentagon and Secret Service Agencies to help Kiev in performing attacks on Russian territory. To what the sources said to The Wall Street Journalthis sharing of information will allow Ukraine to achieve more effectively oil refineries, ockling, power plants and other targets. A service that, according to the Financial Timesis already being provided by the United Kingdom.
As with each new military equipment available to Kiev always arise the same questions: the escalation of the conflict and the potentiality it brings to turn the board. The sent to Ukraine Keith Kellogg is optimistic (“This is where they have the opportunity to challenge Russians much more aggressively,” “use the ability to reach in depth. There are no inviolable places”). On the Russian side, former President Dmitri Medvedev waved ready with the hypothesis of “weapons of massive destruction” to be used due to US interference. Already Putin, unintentionally a break with Trump, used other terms, saying that the delivery of missiles and the sharing of information presupposes “a new climb in relations with the United States,” as it is “impossible to use the Tomahawk without the American staff participating directly.”