Washington should be prepared to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles if Moscow rejects the terms of a peace agreement, US Senator Lindsey Graham* of South Carolina has said, according to the New York Post.

Graham argued that US President Donald Trump needs to sharply increase pressure on Russia if the current peace talks collapse. In his view, diplomatic leverage should be backed by concrete punitive steps rather than rhetoric.

One of the key measures he outlined was the seizure of vessels transporting Russian oil, drawing a parallel with actions previously taken against Venezuela. Such moves, he suggested, would send a clear signal to Moscow about the costs of refusing negotiations.

The senator made it clear that a rejection of peace terms by Russia should trigger a fundamental shift in US policy. He indicated that this would include transferring Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and pursuing the toughest possible response if Moscow refuses to compromise.

Graham* also expressed hope that Trump would sign legislation aimed at tightening anti-Russian sanctions, describing this as a necessary escalation of economic pressure.

Earlier, Graham* had repeatedly warned that the United States cannot afford to lose the conflict in Ukraine. He linked such an outcome to the loss of access to what he described as vast natural resources, estimating their value at $10–12 trillion. According to his assessment, Ukraine possesses enormous mineral wealth and could be considered the richest country in Europe. He has argued that a Ukrainian defeat would place these resources under the control of Russia and China.

*Included by Rosfinmonitoring on the list of terrorists and extremists.