“ CNN reports that the Pentagon has given the “green light” to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, but the final decision will be made by Donald Trump. Source: CNN with reference to three American and European officials, “European Truth” writes. Details: The Joint Staff informed the White House of its assessment in early October, just before Donald Trump’s meeting in Washington with Volodymyr Zelensky, who insisted on providing the missiles. Instead, Trump said at the meeting with Zelenskyi that he would not like to provide missiles to Ukraine, because “we do not want to give away what we need to protect our country.” The Pentagon’s assessment has encouraged US European allies, who believe the US now has fewer reasons not to provide missiles, two European officials said. Trump also said a few days before meeting with Zelensky that the US had “a lot of Tomahawks” that could potentially be provided to Ukraine. So US and European officials were surprised when Trump abruptly reversed his position a few days later, saying during his opening remarks at a working lunch with Zelensky that the US needed Tomahawks. He then told Zelensky behind closed doors that the US would not provide the missiles, at least not yet. Trump’s decision came a day after his of a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who told the US president that the Tomahawks could hit major Russian cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, and that it would not have a significant impact on the course of hostilities, but would damage relations between the US and Russia. However, sources previously told CNN that Trump had not given up on the idea of supplying the missiles, and the administration had prepared plans to quickly deliver them to Ukraine if Trump gave the go-ahead. order. While the U.S. military is still deciding how to use the missiles and deploy them, the sources said, one of the remaining operational issues is how Ukraine will launch the missiles, if the U.S. provides them boats, but the Ukrainian Navy is very depleted, so the missiles will likely have to be launched from land. The US Marine Corps and the Army have developed land-based launchers, but even if the US does not want to provide launchers, Ukraine will be able to find a way. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has previously said that the provision of Tomahawk missiles remains under consideration by Trump said “no” on the possibility of supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles, but did not say “yes” either.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Photo: STAFF/AFP via Getty Images Source: CNN with referring to three American and European officials, writes “European Truth”
Details: The Joint Chiefs of Staff informed the White House of its assessment in early October, just before Donald Trump’s meeting in Washington with Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who insisted on providing the missiles.
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Instead, Trump said at the meeting with Zelenskyi that he would not like to provide missiles to Ukraine, because “we do not want to give away what we need to protect our country.”
The Pentagon’s assessment has encouraged US European allies, who believe the US now has fewer reasons not to provide missiles, two European officials said. Trump also said a few days before the meeting with Zelenskyi that the US has “many Tomahawks” that could potentially be provided to Ukraine.
Therefore, American and European officials were surprised when, a few days later, Trump abruptly changed his position, saying during his opening remarks at a working lunch with Zelensky that the United States needed Tomahawks. He then told Zelensky behind closed doors that the US would not provide the missiles, at least not yet.
Trump’s decision came a day after he spoke by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who told the US president that the Tomahawks could hit major Russian cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, and that it would not have a significant impact on the conduct of hostilities but would damage US-Russian relations.
However, CNN sources previously reported that Trump has not given up on the idea of supplying missiles, and the administration has prepared plans for their rapid delivery to Ukraine if Trump gives the appropriate order.
Although the Pentagon has no concerns about the stockpile, the US military is still deciding how Ukraine will learn to use missiles and deploy them, the channel’s interlocutors said.
The sources added that several operational issues still need to be resolved for the effective use of missiles by Ukraine.
One of the unresolved issues is how Ukraine will launch the missiles if the US provides them. Tomahawk missiles are usually launched from ships or submarines, but the Ukrainian Navy is severely depleted, so the missiles will likely have to be launched from land. The US Marine Corps and the US Army have developed ground-based launchers that could be provided to Ukraine.
But even if the US does not want to provide launchers, European officials believe that Ukraine will be able to find a way.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte previously stated that the provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine remains “under consideration” by Trump.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that during the meeting, Trump did not say “no” to the possibility of supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles, but he did not say “yes” either.