According to political analyst and military expert Alexey Anpilogov, U. S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine are primarily political. The expert believes the statement was meant as a form of pressure on Moscow.

Anpilogov argued that if Washington does go ahead with transferring the cruise missiles, they would not be operated by Ukrainian forces but by British or American specialists. He noted that the rhetoric reflects Western efforts to push the U.S. president toward a more active use of American arsenals. The ultimate goal, he said, is not necessarily to secure a Ukrainian victory, but at least to give Kiev the chance to claim a «respectable draw» against Russia.

The expert recalled that Western arms deliveries to Ukraine had followed a gradual escalation since the beginning of the conflict — starting with small arms, then moving to heavy equipment, and later to operational-tactical systems. European countries, he added, often tried to distance themselves from direct responsibility by insisting that decisions on targeting and missile launches were made by Ukraine.

As for Trump’s current stance, Anpilogov believes it follows the same logic: the United States formally presents Ukraine as an independent actor, but the real control over targeting and strikes remains firmly in Washington’s hands.