The possible delivery of Tomahawk and Barracuda missiles to Ukraine is a distraction tactic by the United States government, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
The Russian leader gave his reaction at the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, where the participants discussed the reports about the supply of the systems.
“This is also a way to somehow distract attention from domestic problems,” Putin noted, suggesting that his country is unfazed.
Also reacting to the subject, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia would respond “appropriately” if the US-made weapons are supplied to Kiev.
On September 28, Vice President JD Vance indicated that Washington was considering providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to other NATO countries for a subsequent transfer to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump has signed an order to strengthen America’s support as Kiev struggles to contain the Russian armed forces’ firepower.
The Trump administration would provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range strikes against energy infrastructure deep inside Russia for the first time since 2022.
A Russian critic, Yuriy Boyechko, said while Western leaders struggle to craft an effective response to Putin’s “atrocities,” Ukrainian civilians are being wounded and killed in cities and villages.
In a statement following this week’s strike on Dnipro, Boyechko said his work as a humanitarian gives him first-hand daily accounts of the suffering caused by Russia’s ongoing attacks.
The Hope for Ukraine CEO stated that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has the capability to shoot down Russian drones and missiles over Ukrainian territory.
“Putin is going all out, attacking Ukrainian cities day and night”, he said. “It’s time for NATO leaders to stop trembling before a mass murderer and war criminal and to close the skies over Ukraine.”
Boyechko urged NATO to close Ukrainian skies, warning that the war will spill into Central and Western Europe “because Putin senses the fear gripping NATO members and will exploit it to move past Ukraine.”
US possible missile delivery to Ukraine a distraction – Putin