While the White House hasn’t yet announced a final decision, JD Vance said this week that, as a result of Vladimir Putin’s continuing refusal to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine, Donald Trump has indicated he might consider acceding to Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles that could conceivably reach Moscow and most of European Russia if fired from Ukraine.

Encouraged by that possibility, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Kremlin officials that they should “know where the bomb shelters are.” [Guy Faulconbridge, Dmitry Antonov and Mark Trevelyan, Reuters, September 29, 2025.]

That was one threat the Kremlin could not shrug off. In an indication that Putin has given the matter considerable thought, spokesman Dmitry Peskov tossed these questions at reporters when asked for comment:

“The question … is this: who can launch these missiles …? Can only Ukrainians launch them, or do American soldiers have to do that? Who is determining the targeting of these missiles? The American side or the Ukrainians themselves?” . . . adding that “a very in-depth analysis” was required.

And Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian Parliament’s Defense Committee, said that any U.S. military specialists who aided Ukraine in launching Tomahawks against Russia would then become legitimate targets for Moscow. “And no one will protect them. Not Trump, not [special envoy Keith] Kellogg, nor anyone else,” he said. [Id.]

To which Kellogg replied that, according to Trump, Kyiv should now have the ability to conduct long-range strikes on Russia, adding:

“Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries.” [Id.]

In a show of defiance and confidence in Russia’s ultimate victory, Peskov had one further comment:

“Even if this happens, there’s no panacea that can change the situation on the front for the Kyiv regime right now . . . And whether it’s Tomahawks or other missiles, they won’t be able to change the dynamic. [Id.]

And finally — never to be outdone — the world heard from Kremlin super-hawk Dmitry Medvedev with one additional threat, proclaiming that Europe “simply cannot afford a war with Russia . . . [but that] the possibility of a fatal accident always exists.” [Id.]

*. *. *

While Trump’s realization that coddling Putin wouldn’t work was long overdue, this verbal escalation is far too reminiscent of the Kennedy-Khrushchev exchanges during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Toe-to-toe confrontations such as these demand the application of patient, experienced diplomacy on both sides. Vladimir Putin has both the experience and the patience.

But who from our side can match him?

*. *. *

And this is me, going to sleep tonight:

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/1/25