Kremlin officials argue that deploying such weapons—even hypothetically—crosses red lines and would necessitate American involvement in operations.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, Tomahawk missiles are long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missiles developed by the United States. They are launched from ships, submarines or aircraft and are guided to their targets by an internal Global Positioning System (GPS) and an active radar homing system.

Just weeks ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed he had approved "asymmetrical responses" to Russian aggression, including potential strikes in the Russian border regions of Belgorod and Kursk to induce power outages. He also hinted at broader attempts to disrupt Moscow's energy supply. Russia condemned these statements and accused Western powers, particularly the EU, of prolonging the war by enabling arms transfers.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the EU's support for Tomahawk deliveries, calling it a "complete lack of political will for peace." She argued that facilitating such transfers deepens the conflict rather than resolving it. Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed this view, warning that any move to arm Ukraine with long-range missiles would usher in a "new stage of escalation." Putin claimed that launching or controlling such weapons without direct U.S. military involvement is impossible.

Ukraine lacks Tomahawk launch infrastructure

Russian authorities have consistently argued that Ukraine lacks the missile infrastructure needed to field Tomahawks independently. A New York Times analysis supports this, noting Kyiv has no naval platforms or land-based launchers capable of firing such missiles. While the U.S. could supply the Typhon land-based launcher system to fill that gap, doing so would likely tie Washington more tightly into any ensuing military engagements.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced Moscow's stance, stating that handling such advanced systems would inevitably involve American specialists—a claim echoed by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council. Medvedev warned that distinguishing between nuclear and conventional Tomahawks midflight is impossible, raising the specter of miscalculation. He insisted launches would effectively be conducted by the U.S. rather than Ukraine.

In an interview, Putin reiterated that the missile deliveries would "destroy" growing positive trends in U.S.-Russia relations. He downplayed their battlefield impact while emphasizing that the mere act of transfer would suggest direct American military involvement.