Tomahawks for Kyiv: will they bring war or peace?
Donald Trump is becoming more vocal about his frustration over Vladimir Putin's refusal to end the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to visit Trump again on Friday. The delivery of long-range, highly accurateUS Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, which has been under discussion for some time, could be finalised at the meeting. What would this mean for Moscow?
A warning shot from Washington
Trump is counting on the deterrent effect of the prospect of deliveries of long-range missiles, political scientist Vadym Denysenko comments in a Facebook post picked up by Glavkom:
“In Washington they seem to believe that Moscow's fear of the use of Tomahawks alone could have an effect. After all, the Tomahawks are not so much about Ukraine as they are about sending a warning: if you try to take military action against Nato countries, you can expect at the very least the destruction of your entire oil export infrastructure. And the Russians know that they have nothing to counter that with.”
Send enough to make an impact
Trump must ensure that this goes beyond a symbolic gesture, writes The Times:
“America's stock of Tomahawks, though substantial at some 4,000, is not infinite. With production low, American commanders will be reluctant to part with too many, given the missile's usefulness in attacking terrorist targets and the constant threat of large-scale war with China over Taiwan. Nevertheless, Mr Trump should use his power to ensure Ukraine receives enough missiles to create a headache for Russian air defences, forcing them to be spread more thinly. A symbolic few will do little good.”
Cruise missiles needed to end the ninth war
Trump must now exert pressure on Russia by arming Ukraine, Corriere della Sera urges:
“According to his own count, Donald Trump claims to have just 'ended the eighth war', namely the one in the Middle East. Now he's ready to end the ninth, between Moscow and Kyiv. ... Clearly America does not have the same influence on Russia as it does on Israel. However it could do much more. But for that, Trump would have to accept the plan drawn up by Zelensky: namely strengthen military resistance on the ground while increasing the attacks on oil and fuel depots and crude oil refineries on Russian territory. That is precisely what the Tomahawks are for.”
The war could come to Russia
Putin may end up paying a high price for rejecting Trump's offers, writes Der Standard:
“'You don't have the cards' to make demands, Trump told Zelensky at the scandalous meeting in the White House at the end of February. This Friday they will meet each other in the same place. And Trump will have the opportunity, as he did back then, to hand Zelensky the cards in the form of Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 2,500 kilometres. This could bring the war started and prolonged by Russia back to Russia. In the Middle East, Trump has shown that he is willing to play a strong hand. Rejecting Trump's efforts to secure a peace deal in Ukraine could cost Putin dearly.”