Moscow – US-Russia relations are balanced on a knife’s edge, with President Vladimir Putin declaring that the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be the move that pushes them over the precipice.
In a direct warning to the White House, Putin stated that such a delivery would trigger a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.” He argued that the missiles’ complexity would require American military participation, a red line that would lead to the “destruction” of their diplomatic ties.
This threat was issued as Putin also touted what he described as major military achievements. He informed his top commanders that Russian forces had captured almost 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2025, cementing Moscow’s “complete strategic initiative.”
In a separate but critical development, Ukraine accused Russia of a new form of covert warfare. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that Russia’s oil tanker fleet is being used for intelligence gathering and to carry out sabotage missions.
Zelenskyy expressed his determination to counter this. He announced that Kyiv is working with its allies on the issue, stating that he is confident “it is entirely possible to stop” these clandestine maritime activities.