US President Trump said he is considering providing Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, calling it "an escalating step in the conflict."
The Tomahawk missile would enhance Ukraine's ability to strike targets deep inside Russia.
When asked at "Air Force One" whether he would provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Trump replied, "We'll see... I might."
The statement followed his second phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend, in which Zelenskyy called for strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities to launch a counteroffensive against Russia.
Moscow had previously warned Washington not to provide long-range missiles to Kyiv, citing the potential for a serious escalation of the conflict and heightened tensions between the US and Russia.
The Tomahawk missile has a range of 2,500 kilometers (about 1,500 miles), easily enough to reach Moscow.
Trump told reporters en route to Israel that he might contact Russia about Ukraine's missile request.
"I might tell them (Russia) that if the conflict isn't resolved, we may or may not do it."
"Do they (Russia) want to see the Tomahawk flying in their direction? I don't think so," Trump said.
Kiev has repeatedly requested long-range missiles to strike Russian cities farther from the front lines.
In multiple phone calls, Zelenskyy and Trump discussed improving Ukraine's air defenses and long-range strike capabilities. Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, have recently been subjected to heavy attacks from Russian drones and missiles, particularly energy infrastructure, which has caused widespread power outages.
Last month, Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, told Fox News that the US president had approved strikes deep inside Russian territory, stating that "there is no such thing as sanctuary in the Russia-Ukraine conflict."
Russia has downplayed the impact of the Tomahawk missiles. "Neither the Tomahawk nor any other missile can change the dynamics of the conflict," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last month.
