Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined three main avenues through which the supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles for the country’s defense needs could be funded. One of the key mechanisms is the PURL program, implemented under NATO’s auspices. According to the head of state, thanks to this program, the North Atlantic Alliance purchases weapons from the United States, transferring the necessary arms to Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Funding Sources and Political Component
Zelensky noted that an alternative route could be the so-called mega deal, which he believes “is a significant story that still needs to be reached.” In addition, the possibility of funding the missiles from frozen Russian assets is being considered. The president described this option as “good,” but emphasized that a political decision is necessary for its implementation.
“So far, in principle, most people view this mechanism positively, but it requires a political decision first, you know how it is resolved – first a political decision, and then all other mechanisms are loaded. And here, in my opinion, we need to resolve it a bit faster,” the president said.
During a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelensky shared his vision regarding the acquisition of Tomahawks, but stressed that it is too early to talk about the specific number of missiles or delivery timelines.
International Reaction and Military Potential of Tomahawk
In September, the leaders of Ukraine and the United States discussed the prospect of transferring Tomahawk missiles. Last week, Trump stated that he had “made a decision in a certain sense” regarding the possible supply of these missiles to Ukraine, but did not specify the details. He emphasized that he wants to know how exactly Ukraine plans to use them.
Given the vagueness of Trump’s statement, the final decision regarding the transfer of Tomahawks to Kyiv remains unknown. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the supply of American cruise missiles to Ukraine would lead to “a completely new level of escalation” in relations between Moscow and Washington. He also downplayed the significance of Tomahawk, calling them “not quite modern” and asserting that their supply “will not change the balance of power on the battlefield.”
Tomahawk missiles, manufactured by RTX, have a maximum range of up to 1,000 miles (over 1,600 km) – significantly more than the American ATACMS missile systems already used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Tomahawk also surpasses Ukrainian drones in speed and power, while drones often face powerful Russian air defense systems.
Ukraine has long been appealing to international partners for the provision of long-range weapons. Additionally, Kyiv is developing its own solutions, such as the “Palyanitsa” and “Flamingo” systems, but their characteristics currently lag behind those of the Tomahawk.