(MENAFN) President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that the United States must maintain an ample supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles within its own inventory before potentially providing some to Ukraine.

These missiles, which have a striking range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,554 miles), are the newest weapons requested by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.

Trump had earlier hinted at the possibility of approving Ukraine’s request, referencing stalled progress in peace negotiations with Russia. However, he has yet to offer a firm decision.

“We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too. We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean, we can’t deplete [our own arsenal],” Trump told journalists at the Oval Office.

This statement came shortly after a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the call, Trump confirmed that the missile issue was part of the discussion. He noted that Putin “didn’t like the idea” of Ukraine acquiring Tomahawks.

Following the conversation, Putin’s close advisor Yury Ushakov told reporters that potential shipments could jeopardize the prospects for peace between Russia and Ukraine and would significantly harm Russia’s relationship with the US.

Ukrainian President Zelensky is anticipated to request further military assistance from Trump during a meeting at the White House on Friday.

Previously, Trump arranged a deal with NATO where the alliance would fund American weapons intended for Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly warned that no volume of foreign military aid will deter it from fulfilling its objectives, but such support could increase the likelihood of a broader conflict.

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