Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, allegedly misled former US President Donald Trump regarding his intentions to cease Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Kurt Volker, who previously served as Trump’s envoy for Ukraine negotiations. In an interview with Euronews, Volker emphasized that this deception could lead to the United States potentially providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
On August 19, shortly after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, the US President welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders to the White House. Following this gathering, Trump indicated plans to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy.
Volker recounted that Putin had assured Trump during a phone conversation that he would engage in negotiations with Zelenskyy. He stated,
“Trump is frustrated. Putin promised him he would negotiate and meet with Zelenskyy. He [Putin] did it when Trump was with European leaders in the White House. He went and made a phone call to Putin who agreed in that moment.”
However, Volker asserted that Putin deceived Trump, leading to the former President’s irritation. The Kremlin has consistently dismissed the possibility of a direct meeting with Zelenskyy, regardless of US involvement.
US considerations on military support amid rising tensions
Volker elaborated on how Putin’s actions have made Trump appear weak, a portrayal that the former President finds unacceptable. This perception has now become a personal matter for Trump, prompting discussions within the US administration about the potential deployment of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
Moreover, Volker posited that discussing long-range missile options could reinvigorate negotiations with Putin, ultimately compelling him to reach a settlement. Volker also noted that Trump’s approach to politics is inherently transactional, suggesting that his motivations may also include financial considerations tied to military support.
“Trump is transactional; he’s all about money and if somebody is paying what does he care,” Volker explained. “If the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends then Trump’s priority is that he can lift sanctions [on Russia] and make money.”
Moscow’s contrasting narrative and concerns over US military support
In stark contrast, Putin has publicly warned that supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles could obliterate any progress in US-Russian relations. During an interview published on October 5, he claimed such actions would lead to the destruction of an “emerging positive trend” in bilateral dealings.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that the Kremlin is attempting to deter the US from sending Tomahawk missiles by linking improvements in relations with concessions from Washington. According to Volker,
“ISW continues to assess that Putin has been trying to facilitate US-Russian rapprochement, including by pressuring the Trump administration to engage in arms control talks, to secure Russia’s desired demands in Ukraine.”
On October 2, Putin also intimated that the involvement of American military personnel in potential Tomahawk strikes would signify a “new stage of escalation,” although he maintained that such developments would not alter the ongoing conflict dynamics.
Putin’s strategy appears to involve a mix of threats to the US regarding bilateral relations and attempts to downplay the effectiveness of the missiles, as a way to influence American decision-making.
Ukraine has long sought Tomahawk missiles, which possess an operational range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometers and deliver a robust warhead weighing approximately 400-450 kilograms. Such capabilities would significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to conduct deep strikes into Russian territory, particularly as they currently rely on Western-supplied missiles like Storm Shadow, limited to 250 kilometers, as well as domestically produced drones with restricted payloads.
In recent months, Ukrainian forces have escalated attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, reportedly impairing about 40% of Russia’s oil refining capacity by the end of September due to drone strikes. Since August, Ukrainian operations have targeted at least 16 out of 38 of Russia’s oil refineries, contributing to a fuel shortage within Russia.