Share and Follow

Facebook X Reddit Pinterest

In a significant development concerning international diplomacy and military aid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced concerns over the United States’ military support strategy. On Tuesday, he highlighted a pivotal decision by President Trump that has far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter

{beacon}

President Zelensky pointed out that the U.S.’s choice to withhold long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles from Ukraine has inadvertently affected Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks. Zelensky emphasized that this decision has diminished any motivation for Russia to pursue diplomatic resolutions to the war.

Defense &
National Security

Defense &
National Security

The absence of these advanced weapons, which could have bolstered Ukraine’s defense capabilities, leaves the nation in a precarious position as it continues to fend off Russian aggression. As the conflict endures, Zelensky’s remarks underscore the complex interplay of military support and diplomatic strategies on the global stage.

The Big Story

Zelensky says Tomahawks are the trump card

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued Tuesday that President Trump’s decision to refrain from sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine deflated Russia’s interest in engaging in diplomacy to end its war.

“The front line can spark diplomacy. Instead, Russia continues to do everything to weasel out of diplomacy, and as soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us — for Ukraine — became less immediate, Russia’s interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically,” Zelensky said during his daily video address. “This signals that this very issue — the issue of our deep strike capabilities — may hold the indispensable key to peace.”

“The discussion on Tomahawks turned out to be a major investment in diplomacy – we forced Russia to reveal that Tomahawks are precisely the card they take seriously,” he added.

Zelensky met with Trump in Washington on Friday in what the Ukrainian leader said was a “positive” huddle, even though he failed to secure a commitment from the U.S. to send the powerful munitions, which have a range of about 1,000 miles, depending on the variant.

“It’s not easy for us to give … you’re talking about massive numbers of very powerful weapons,” Trump said Friday, minutes ahead of his behind-closed-doors meeting with Zelensky.

“So, that’s one of the things we’ll be talking about hopefully, they won’t need it, hopefully, we’ll be able to get the war over with, without thinking about Tomahawks,” Trump added.

The missiles are built to travel at high subsonic speeds and low heights to better dodge radars, providing Ukraine with a lot more capability and range to target Russian military outposts and energy facilities deep inside the country, military experts told The Hill last week.

Zelensky emphasized the Tomahawks’ capabilities Tuesday.

“We will continue engaging with Europeans and Americans on long-range capabilities,” the Ukrainian leader added. “Air defense is, of course, the top priority.”

On Sunday, Zelensky shared that the U.S. and Ukraine are finalizing a long-term agreement for Kyiv to get 25 Patriot air defense systems.

Trump has continued his push to help end the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been raging for about 3 1/2 years. The president said last week that he expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “within two weeks or so.”

But, a White House official told The Hill on Tuesday there are no plans for Trump to meet with Putin “in the immediate future,” after a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday afternoon that his next moves on Russia and Ukraine would be revealed in the coming days.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday.

Read the full report at thehill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:

Trump taps Hegseth’s top military aide for Army vice chief post

President Trump tapped Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s top military aide, Army Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, to be the next Army vice chief of staff, replacing Gen. James Mingus, who has been in the post for less than two years. The Senate received LaNeve’s nomination to be the No. 2 Army officer post Monday, according to a congressional notice. He has served as Hegseth’s senior military assistant since April. LaNeve’s …

Full Story

Marines live-fire mishap during Vance visit prompts finger-pointing: What to know

A live-fire mishap that caused metal shrapnel to damage a patrol vehicle while Vice President Vance was visiting a California military base is facing intense scrutiny from officials who question how the unusual incident was allowed to happen. The premature detonation of 155 mm artillery as Camp Pendleton celebrated 250 years of the U.S. Marine Corps — part of a live simulation of a beach assault by sea and air — caused …

Full Story

Private contractor reportedly behind mystery drones last year

A private company has reportedly taken responsibility for a wave of mysterious drone sightings last winter. At that time, waves of drone sightings in the skies over New Jersey prompted concern from citizens, local law enforcement and local and national lawmakers. The drones were spotted near sensitive military installations, sparking fears they could be from foreign adversaries or unknown, possibly nonhuman sources. The White …

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Washington Space Business Roundtable will host a virtual discussion on “China, Space, and Geopolitics,” at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.
U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies will have a conversation on current cyber threats to U.S. national security with commission Co-Chair and former Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), former Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), tomorrow at 12 p.m.
The National Defense Industrial Association and MITRE will hold a talk on “AI for Requirements: Modernizing DOD Requirements Process,” at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will have a conversation on “Rethinking America North Korea Strategy,” tomorrow at 2 p.m.
The Center for American Progress will discuss “A New Vision for American Foreign Policy,” with Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen will speak at the Atlantic Council on transatlantic security and NATO’s northeastern flank tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Axios will hold its Future of Defense Summit at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Bondi knocks Democrats over planned ‘ICE tracker’

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday went after Democrats over a planned “ICE tracker” web feature. “Shutdown Democrats are already refusing to pay our law enforcement agents. Now, @RepRobertGarcia and @SenBlumenthal are trying to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs,” Bondi said in …

Full Story

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Pentagon clamps down on military interactions with Congress (Breaking Defense)
Trump turns up heat on Latin America (The Wall Street Journal)
On Ukraine and Russia, lots of talk but little has changed (The New York Times)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

GOP leaders eye new stopgap spending measure to end shutdown

Republican leaders are making plans for a new, longer continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at current levels as the government shutdown … Read more

Lindsey Halligan sends multiple texts to legal reporter

Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, reportedly sent multiple texts to Lawfare journalist Anna Bower related … Read more