Putin Warns Trump: “Deploy Tomahawks to Ukraine — and You’ll Destroy U.S.–Russia Relations”
TWATNews.com | International Edition | Monday, October 6, 2025
By Rob McConnell | International Affairs Desk
Moscow calls Trump’s bluff as tensions surge over Ukraine missile threat
ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO — Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that any deployment of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine would cross a “red line” and “destroy relations” between Washington and Moscow.
The warning came as reports circulated that the Trump administration is weighing the transfer of Tomahawk missiles — with ranges exceeding 2,500 kilometres (1,550 miles) — to bolster Ukraine’s long-range strike capability. If approved, Ukraine could theoretically target strategic sites deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow itself.
Putin, however, has made it clear that Russia is not intimidated by Trump, his threats, or the United States.
A New Level of Escalation
Speaking at the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin said that delivering such weapons to Kyiv would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation” in the war. He emphasized that using Tomahawks would not simply represent another aid package — it would amount to direct U.S. involvement in military operations against Russia.
“Those who think they can threaten Russia from afar,” Putin said, “should remember that escalation cuts both ways.”
Moscow’s message was unmistakable: supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would shift the war from proxy to open confrontation between two nuclear powers.
Putin’s Calm Confidence
In contrast to the defiant tone from Washington, Putin appeared composed and unshaken. He asserted that Russia’s air-defense systems and counter-strike capabilities would be sufficient to neutralize most of the threat, and dismissed suggestions that Tomahawk deployment would alter the strategic balance.
Putin also warned European allies that continued military support for Kyiv could bring a “significant response.” His statements were calculated to project strength — and to remind Trump that Moscow remains unfazed by Western bluster.
Trump’s High-Stakes Bluff
Sources inside Washington suggest that the Tomahawk proposal may be more political theatre than practical strategy. U.S. defense officials have noted that most of America’s Tomahawk inventory is already committed to the Navy and strategic reserves — making large transfers difficult.
Analysts say Trump’s tactic may be an attempted bluff designed to pressure Putin into peace talks rather than a genuine military escalation. However, Putin appears to have called that bluff, responding with measured but unmistakable warnings that any U.S. misstep will bring consequences.
“The Kremlin is treating Trump’s threat as an empty gesture,” said one European diplomat. “Putin has seen too many of these before.”
Why Putin Isn’t Afraid
Experts point to several reasons why Putin seems unmoved:
- Russia’s Defenses: Moscow’s multi-layered missile defense systems give Putin confidence in blunting Western weapons.
- Controlled Messaging: Russian media portrays Putin as the calm defender of national security, while the U.S. is depicted as reckless.
- Risk Tolerance: Putin has shown a far higher threshold for escalation than his Western counterparts.
- U.S. Political Limits: Trump faces both domestic opposition and NATO caution, restricting his freedom to act.
- Strategic Leverage: By defining red lines early, Putin positions himself to claim justification for any counter-action.
A Dangerous Game of Bluffs
What happens next depends on who blinks first.
If Trump proceeds with the missile plan, the move could trigger unprecedented retaliation, potentially expanding the war beyond Ukraine’s borders.
If it’s all a bluff, Putin may have once again proven that resolve outweighs rhetoric in the dangerous chess game of geopolitics.
For now, one thing is clear: Putin is not afraid of Trump — or the United States. He’s confident, calculating, and determined to remind the world that Russia still dictates its own red lines.
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