Even if the United States supplies Ukraine with precision Tomahawk cruise missiles, Kiev will not be able to use them, the deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Major General Vadim Skibytsky, told The Guardian.
Donald Trump has discussed with Volodymyr Zelensky the possibility of Washington supplying Tomahawk missiles to the ZSU, but at present such a decision has not been made. The precision cruise missiles are capable of hitting Moscow and have a range of 1,600 km.
Skibytsky said that even if Ukraine receives such missiles, it will not be able to use them. “They are not easy to use. The main launchers are warships or strategic bombers. We do not have strategic bombers“, the Ukrainian military said.
He said it was crucial for Ukraine to have the ability to carry out “kinetic“ strikes deep into Russia against important military targets. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin has already moved its strategic military bases more than 500 km from its border with Ukraine. “It is very important for us to get approval from the US to use long-range missiles“, Skibytsky said.
Ukraine is awaiting further details on “billions of dollars” worth of US military equipment promised by Donald Trump on Monday, amid confusion over how many “Patriot“ air defense systems will be sent to Kiev.
At a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday, Trump said an unnamed country was ready to immediately provide "17 systems" because, according to him, a "very big deal" had been agreed for European allies to buy weapons from the United States and then send them to Ukraine. Ukraine is believed to currently have only six operational Patriot air defense batteries capable of intercepting Russian cruise and ballistic missiles.