Trump has not abandoned idea of supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks after call with Putin – CNN

US President Donald Trump kept the option of sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine on the table during his call with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: CNN, citing sources familiar with the call, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to CNN, the conversation – in which Putin warned Trump against approving the Tomahawk transfer – did not convince the US president to drop the option.

"Why would he [Trump] give up that leverage? He won't remove the threat [of sending Tomahawks – ed.] until it's no longer necessary," a Trump administration official said.

Another source told CNN that Trump is seeking to end the war and is focusing on a diplomatic approach, and that the threat of sending Tomahawks to Ukraine is one of the tools at his disposal as part of these efforts.

Quote from CNN: "The US president, in both public and private, has appeared more willing to allow Ukraine to obtain the long-range missiles in recent weeks, US officials said.

The administration has drawn up plans to provide the weapons to Ukraine, the officials said, in case Trump gives the order, which they stress he can do at any time if he feels it is right."

Background:

• On Friday 17 October, Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The possible delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine is among the main topics for discussion.
• After his Thursday call with Putin, Trump said the Kremlin leader "didn't like" the idea of Ukraine receiving Tomahawk missiles.

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