Russian military correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny expressed doubt that the administration of U. S. President Donald Trump would risk escalation by delivering Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

He noted that in recent years, whenever the West began discussing new weapons for Ukraine, it usually meant that such arms were already there and only awaited official confirmation. However, Poddubny believes the situation with Tomahawk cruise missiles is different.

According to him, if such a transfer were to occur, it would mark one of the most serious and tectonic steps toward escalation between the United States and Russia. He also expressed confidence that Russian air defense systems and crews would be able to intercept most of the Tomahawks.

Poddubny recalled the U.S. missile strike on Syria as an example, saying it achieved little effect. He pointed out that during that attack, the Russian air defense systems based at Khmeimim did not engage, and the targeted Shayrat airfield resumed operations the same day. Around ninety percent of the American missiles, he added, were intercepted by Syrian air defenses.

At the same time, Poddubny noted that combating Tomahawks would not be an easy task. Russian air defense units, he said, are already engaged daily in repelling drone attacks, and the addition of Tomahawks would expand their workload and mission scope. Still, he stressed, the missile cannot become a weapon capable of stopping the Russian army.

He also questioned the feasibility of any large-scale strike strategy against Russia, emphasizing that the country’s possession of nuclear weapons changes everything. As soon as Russian forces detect the launch of any projectile that could carry a nuclear warhead, he said, an entirely different decision-making logic and set of protocols would come into play.

Poddubny concluded that Washington is unlikely to push the world to the brink of such a nightmare, understanding that Tomahawks would not help the Kiev regime, especially now when Ukraine’s ground forces are facing a deep crisis on the battlefield.