The delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could alter Putin’s calculations, yet the Kremlin leader still refuses peace talks because he cannot afford to show weakness.
This was stated by the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, who spoke at the Riga Conference.
“We have capabilities that are not currently deployed in Ukraine, which are truly formidable and powerful, and which can inflict serious damage at the place and time of our choosing. Some of these may potentially be moved to Ukraine for future use, and this could change [Putin’s] calculations,” Whitaker said.
Responding to comments that the Kremlin reacted almost panically to the very possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Whitaker noted:
“Obviously, we have not yet reached the moment when Putin decides it is time to negotiate, but the problem is that he cannot show weakness, even though he is incredibly weak.”
In this context, Whitaker recalled remarks by Russian officials in response to former US President Donald Trump calling Russia a “paper tiger,” when they insisted Russia was actually a “bear,” rejecting Trump’s analogy.
Whitaker said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte summed it up best: a true bear does not need to prove it is a bear—it simply is. Emphasizing the weakness of the Russian army, the US ambassador to NATO stated:
“If a snail had left the Russia-Ukraine border three and a half years ago, it would already be in Poland. And the Russians have not even captured 20% of the territory, which shows how incompetent and ineffective the Russian military has been on the battlefield.”
When asked whether the US president is truly ready to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, Whitaker clarified that no statements will be made until the White House issues official communication on the matter.
“Obviously, the ability to deliver larger payloads over longer distances could change Putin’s calculations,” he said, adding that such measures also include sanctions against the shadow fleet and other actions.
Meanwhile, accelerating the delivery of US weapons to Ukraine, funded by other NATO allies, demonstrates the Alliance’s determination to continue supporting Ukraine, according to Whitaker. He noted that the aid packages include not only air defense systems but also other strike capabilities.
The ambassador emphasized that pressure on Russia continues to grow with the sole purpose of forcing the Kremlin leader to sit at the negotiating table to end the war. He also acknowledged that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved by a “single call” from Trump, given the complexity of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and therefore, in his view, pressure on Russia must continue.
