There are new hints Donald Trump will agree to send Ukraine long-range missiles which could reach Moscow despite Vladimir Putin’s pleas against it.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Washington and Kyiv are engaged in ‘a very detailed and active discussion about the possibility of providing these missiles’.
The weapons could be a game-changer for Ukraine, allowing precision attacks on Russian military and energy assets far from the frontline.
The jet-powered, subsonic cruise missiles which up to £3 million each have been requested by Volodymyr Zelensky.
They have a range of 1,500 miles and could hit targets around both Moscow and St Petersburg.
‘Currently, the Ukrainian and American teams are working to coordinate all these details, discussing all the nuances regarding in what forms and configurations the missiles can be provided to Ukraine,’ said foreign ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi.
Putin has labelled a Tomahawk deployment as ‘monstrous’ and said such a move would destroy his relationship with Trump.
What is a Tomahawk Missile?
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a long-range weapon launched from sea to attack targets in deep-strike missions.
It can strike targets from 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, even in heavily defended airspace – bringing Moscow into Ukraine’s reach.
The missile measures 20 feet (6.1 meters) long with an 8.5-foot wingspan and weighs about 3,330 pounds (1,510 kg).
Ukraine already has a number of domestically made and Western long-range weapons, including the Flamingo, Neptune and Harpoon.
The Tomahawk matches the Flamingo in distance, and will add to the country’s ability to defend itself as the Kremlin ramps up attacks.
But Trump has expressed anger that Putin goes on killing and refuses to strike a peace deal.
This came as Russia overnight staged new ruthless attacks on Ukrainian electricity facilities, triggering a fresh wave of blackouts.
Savage drone strikes Black Sea port Odesa cutting power and water while also hitting railway facilities.
Apocalyptic strike lit the sky in the ‘massive’ onslaught on key infrastructure as five districts faced blackouts.
It was the second day of deliberate hits by Vladimir Putin on Ukraine’s power plants ahead of the cold winter in a clear attempt to intimidate civilians.
In Chernihiv region, two energy workers were killed in a Russian strike on electricity transmission provider Chernihivoblenergo when their vehicle was attacked.
Three more workers were wounded.
The company said in a statement: ‘Russia is a terrorist country, a vile and insidious enemy that strikes not only energy facilities but also people who are simply carrying out their daily tasks of restoration.
‘Do not underestimate the work of energy workers….they risk their lives everyday.’
In Kyiv, power was restored to more than 800,000 families after attacks the previous night.
Ukraine, meanwhile, struck at Russian city Volgograd, apparently aiming to further damage a strategic oil refinery.
Thunderous explosions hit the city at 2am with air defences shooting down some drones, causing injury and damage to residential property, a school and a kindergarten.
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