Ukraine's Potential Tomahawk Missiles Raise Nuclear Stakes
Ukraine could soon receive advanced Tomahawk missiles from the US, capable of striking targets in Russia's Ural region within hours. This potential supply has sparked concerns and warnings from Russia, raising the stakes in the ongoing conflict.
Tomahawks, renowned for their precision, could significantly boost Ukraine's striking capabilities. However, their deployment is not without risks. Russia's President has warned that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine could lead to the invocation of nuclear deterrence articles.
From the US military perspective, potential launch bases for Tomahawks in Europe include NATO countries like Poland, given its proximity and strategic location near Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Yet, using these bases in Ukraine's interests is considered unlikely.
American politicians' statements about supplying Tomahawks appear to be diplomatic pressure on Moscow, with the mere mention of such weapons being seen as a new step in escalation by Russia. Meanwhile, the US has only two batteries of 'land-land' Typhoon missile systems located in the Pacific Ocean.
The potential supply of Tomahawks to Ukraine raises the conflict's stakes, with Russia warning of nuclear consequences. While Poland could serve as a launch base, using these systems in Ukraine's interests is uncertain. Modern Russian air defense systems pose a challenge to Tomahawks' effectiveness. The US is also planning to equip a second multi-domain operational group in Europe with similar systems by 2026.
