The US is considering a request by Ukraine for long-range Tomahawk missiles, US Vice-President JD Vance has said.
However, Vance added President Donald Trump would be making the final determination on the matter.
Kyiv has long been calling for its Western partners to provide it with weapons that could hit major Russian cities far from the front line, arguing that they would help Ukraine seriously weaken Russia's military industry and bring the war to an end.
If the cost of continuing the war for Moscow is too high, it will be forced to start peace talks, deputy defence minister Ivan Havryliuk told the BBC.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down Vance's suggestion, saying there was no panacea that can change the situation on the front for the Kyiv regime. He added that whether it's Tomahawks or other missiles, they won't change the dynamic.
Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), which would put Moscow within reach for Ukraine.
While Vance remained ambiguous about Ukraine's request for Tomahawks in his remarks, the US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested Trump had already authorized strikes deep into Russian territory. Asked on Fox News whether Washington had allowed Kyiv to carry out long-range strikes within Russia, Kellogg confirmed, The answer is yes, use the ability to hit deep, there are no such things as sanctuaries.
Vance and Kellogg's comments correspond with a recent shift in the US administration's tone regarding the war. Last week, Trump asserted that Kyiv could win all of Ukraine back in its original form – a change reportedly surprising Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump's irritation with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apparent willingness to discuss peace amidst ongoing bombardments has become evident. Recently, a significant strike involving hundreds of drones and missiles resulted in fatalities in Kyiv.
Ukraine's Havryliuk warned that the intensity and frequency of Russian aerial attacks are likely to escalate.
In light of these developments, Ukraine has also requested Western partners provide at least 10 units of Patriot surface-to-air defense systems to protect against airborne threats.
Havryliuk noted there was some movement towards receiving promised systems, acknowledging the swift increase in Russian missile and drone use.
In a future-centric approach, Ukraine is focusing on enhancing its domestic production of drones and long-range weapons. Still, the reliance on allies for essential air defense systems remains critical.
Only together with our partners can we stop the Russian terror in the sky, Havryliuk stated, urging any assistance to safeguard European security.
