Recently, U.S. President Trump directly spoke to Russia, saying that if the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had not ended, he would consider handing the long-range assault missiles to Ukraine. The assault missiles can reach 2,500 kilometers, launched from Kiev, Moscow is enough, it is not the same as sending the "death express" directly to the Russian door? Trump said that the export, the international instantly burned the pot, everyone looked at how the Kremlin Palace received.
Trump’s statement was told to reporters on the Air Force One on October 12 that he was flying to the Middle East to deal with other matters, and he succinctly knocked out the topic. He said that if Putin didn’t hurry to stop, he might approve the use of warhead missiles to Ukraine, with the aim of forcing Russia to sit down and negotiate. Trump also stressed that he would first call Putin to remind him if it could be through dialogue to solve the problem, but if it crashed, don’t blame him.
The missile is not a joke, it is the main equipment of the U.S. Navy, can precisely hit ground targets, bullets are powerful, flying low and not easily caught by the radar. The Ukrainian President Zelensky was naturally upset, and he just called him two times in the days before, speaking about long-range weapons. Zelensky said they discussed air defense, energy security and long-range capabilities, and also guaranteed that the missiles are only used to hit military targets and will not hit civilians.
Russia’s reaction came quickly, Kremlin spokesman Peskov publicly stated on October 13 that it was “extremely concerned” about the tactical ax missiles, he said it would seriously undermine U.S.-Russian relations, and reiterated Ukraine’s old account of producing dirty bombs. Dirty bombs are not real nuclear bombs, but with conventional explosives disperse radioactive materials, can pollute a large area, causing long-term radiation damage. Russian intelligence agencies claim that Ukraine has the ability to do this, as early as June 2025 said. Peskov clearly meant that if you were to give the missiles to Ukraine, what if they were going inside nuclear stuff?
As the vice chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Medvedev directly named Trump. He said that providing Tomahawk missiles might "end with a nuclear response" and satirized Trump's threat as empty talk, just like driving a nuclear submarine near Russia. In his statement on October 13th, he stressed that this matter is hard for everyone, including Trump himself. Medvedev previously said on June 21 that if Ukraine uses dirty bombs, Russia will directly upgrade to tactical nuclear weapons. That kind of nuclear warhead with small yield is specially designed to hit parts of the battlefield, but its destructive power is still amazing and can cause shock waves and radiation spread. Through these words, Russia is not only scaring Ukraine, but also sending a signal to Western countries that any unconventional means to change the situation of the war may trigger a chain reaction, and no one can escape.
It has been more than three years since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started. Russian troops are advancing in the east, but at a high cost. Ukraine is supported by Western aid. After Trump came to power, he promised to end the war quickly. He met Putin in Alaska in August, but he did not talk about any results. Now he's turning to arms aid, Tomahawk missiles as the new counterweight. This kind of missile has a wide range and can reach Russian energy facilities, military bases and logistics points. If Ukraine obtains it, it can launch attacks from the rear without always having to carry it on the front line.
Zelensky’s team revealed that they had already tested similar remote systems in September, but had a technical gap, and that U.S. aid was well-filled. Trump also said he would coordinate NATO allies to help, such as Poland and Britain could provide logistical support. This is not only military aid, but also involved in political calculation, Trump’s domestic support rate is high, but also has to deal with the voice of opposition, and some think it will drag the U.S. into a bigger dungeon.
Russia's countermeasures are not just lip service. They are already strengthening local defenses and deploying more anti-missile systems. Putin stated on October 5 that providing Tomahawk missiles by the United States would seriously damage bilateral ties. Now that Peskov is bringing up dirty bombs again, it is equivalent to digging up old intelligence to fight back. The Russian intelligence network claimed that Ukraine was testing radioactive devices at secret locations. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected nuclear facilities in June and found no abnormalities, Russia insisted on its statement. This is not the first time that this dirty bomb accusation has been raised since the early days of the conflict. Now it is used at the right time, just in time to meet Trump's missile threat. Medvedev's nuclear warning was even harsher, saying that Russia reserved all options to maintain security. If Ukraine launches a missile with nuclear components, Russia will regard it as a direct attack, and tactical nuclear warheads may then be used. The equivalent of that thing is controlled at the battlefield level, but the radiation and pollution will last for several years, affecting neighboring countries.
The United Nations Security Council discussed it on October 13, but there was no consensus. Some European countries support Trump's approach and believe that pressure must be put on Russia to negotiate peace, but are also worried about nuclear risks. Energy prices have fluctuated greatly because of this incident, and the stock market has also fluctuated. In Ukraine, Zelensky said aid would speed up the peace process, but he also admitted that Russia recently attacked power facilities, causing power outages for several hours. Trump's ultimatum reflects that the United States has exhausted patience and shifted from providing air defense systems to offensive weapons, a radical move. Russia sends information through nuclear hints in order to deter the West from increasing its number. If the missiles really reach Kiev, Russia may strengthen border deployment and even adjust its nuclear posture.
Trump wants to use missiles as levers to force Putin to give in, but Russia grabs dirty bombs to talk about things, and in turn throws nuclear cards on the table. Both sides know that misjudgment can lead to disaster, and it is risky for either side to take an extra step. Diplomacy is still the key. Only by rebuilding mutual trust through multilateral negotiations such as the United Nations framework can confrontation be resolved. The follow-up development depends on the White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky on October 17. If the aid is finalized, Russia's response will be tougher. The whole process shows that the game between big powers is complicated and the relationship between the United States and Russia is further tense, but it may also force out negotiation opportunities.
Trump's move has his reasons. After taking office, he audited aid to Ukraine and suspended some funds, but ultimately strengthened military support. Zelensky's team listed specific needs, with at least 50 missiles covering key theaters. Russian media reported that the Kremlin has raised its vigilance against potential threats. International observers pointed out that Trump's decision was influenced by domestic politics, and he promised to strengthen the support of allies to counter Russian expansion. But Russia's counter-measures are also solid. Medvedev's words are not in vain. The nuclear threshold is low, and no one wants to really get there.