Putin Warns on Tomahawks, Offers One-Year New START

At a Sochi foreign policy forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned any U.S. supply of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine would be a “qualitatively new” stage of escalation, would amount to direct U.S. involvement, and said Russia could shoot such missiles down and strengthen its air defenses while downplaying their battlefield impact. He said such a step would damage Moscow–Washington relations, accused NATO of effectively being at war with Russia, promised a “significant” response to Europe’s militarisation and warned against seizures of vessels carrying Russian oil. Putin floated a conditional one-year extension of the New START arms-control treaty, saying Moscow would agree only if Washington avoids actions that undermine the strategic balance. U.S. deliberations reportedly include intelligence-sharing on deep strikes and whether to send Tomahawks, but several outlets and officials say transferring Tomahawks is unlikely because inventories are committed to the U.S. Navy and Washington may prefer shorter-range systems or allied purchases. He also urged deeper trade ties with India, seeking increased agricultural and pharmaceutical imports ahead of a planned state visit.