The US will help Ukraine target Russian energy infrastructure deep inside Russia. Intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense have been authorized to share satellite and other information that could be helpful in this regard, according to insiders.
US President Donald Trump is taking a tougher line with Russia now that peace talks are struggling to get off the ground. Trump believes the recent blows Ukraine has dealt to Russia's vital oil and gas networks will teach the Kremlin a lesson.
Ukraine and its allies have long been pushing for information that would allow Ukraine to map, select, and target targets. And preferably, the delivery of missiles capable of striking these targets, such as the American Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The US president has authorized the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to assist Kyiv in strikes deep inside Russian territory, The Wall Street Journal reveals . At the same time, Washington is urging its NATO allies to follow suit and intensify cooperation with Ukraine.
The intelligence should enable Kyiv to accurately hit vital targets such as refineries, pipelines and power plants, government sources said.
The main goal of the deal is to reduce the Kremlin's oil revenues, leaving Vladimir Putin with fewer resources to continue his bloody war against Ukraine.
Washington regularly supported drone and missile strikes. But the expanded intelligence plan marks the first time the Trump administration has sought to assist with long-range strikes on targets within Russian territory. His predecessor, Joe Biden, did not authorize such actions for fear of a Russian reaction.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly urged Trump to consider Tomahawks and other long-range weapons during a meeting in New York last week. The US is seriously considering this, Vice President J.D. Vance said afterward.
"Everything depends on his decision," Zelenskyy said Thursday at a meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen. "We'll see. It's important."
Defense expert Patrick Bolder calls the potential delivery of US long-range weapons "not a game-changer." However, he says it would be a significant expansion of Kyiv's arsenal.
Ukraine already possesses its own long-range weapons, such as the Neptune and Flamingo missiles, but production is slow to get off the ground. Drones are currently being used primarily to strike Russian oil refineries.
According to Bolder, the Tomahawk would be a valuable addition to this. "This missile is difficult to intercept thanks to its variable navigation systems and programmable trajectory. This makes it very suitable for precision strikes on strategic targets."
The missile isn't a new weapon: it was already used in the 1991 Gulf War. The Tomahawk has been significantly modernized since then. It can use GPS, inertial navigation, and even digital maps, allowing it to navigate independently of satellite signals.
Tomahawks can be loaded with all kinds of explosives. Bolder expects that conventional charges of 100 kilograms will suffice for attacks on oil refineries. "Whatever they put there, the weapon is still state-of-the-art."
Tomahawk missiles have a range of up to 2,400 kilometers, putting even Moscow within Ukrainian reach. The long-range weapons Ukraine has received from the United States so far are ATACMS , which have a range of 300 kilometers.
The deployment of cruise missiles will continue to require close cooperation with US intelligence agencies. However, it remains uncertain whether President Trump will actually authorize the firing of long-range missiles against targets on Russian territory. "It could also all be a threat to pressure Putin," says Bolder.
Should Washington decide to proceed with the Tomahawks, Bolder says it can be implemented relatively quickly. "They can be flown to Poland and from there to Ukraine. Theoretically, they could be operational within a few days."
