Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned that the provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine by the United States would severely worsen the relationship between Russia and the US, leading to a new and perilous phase of their conflict. This warning was issued in light of discussions concerning the US supplying these missiles to Ukraine, which could then target major Russian cities. The Tomahawk missile has a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers, implying it could reach the entirety of Russia. However, some US officials have expressed that a significant portion of these missiles are already allocated within the US military reserves, making a transfer to Ukraine problematic. In an interview with Russian media, Putin stressed the severity of such a decision, adding that Russia is enhancing its air defense capabilities to protect against these missiles. Putin also characterized the current state of relations between Russia and the West as the most strained since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. He underscored that NATO’s expansion endangers Russia’s security and is an attempt to reduce Russia’s regional influence. Western nations and Ukraine perceive this as an act of aggression and a manifestation of Russia’s imperialistic aspirations, while European leaders have expressed concerns that Putin might attack NATO countries if Russia is not defeated, a claim that Putin has repeatedly denied.
