Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued his starkest warning yet to Washington, vowing a “serious and devastating” response if any US Tomahawk missiles were to strike Russian territory — a threat that comes as Moscow unveils a new generation of hypersonic and nuclear-capable weapons.
Speaking to reporters as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, Putin condemned reports suggesting that long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles could be transferred to Kyiv. He made clear that any strike on Russian soil, intentional or otherwise, would trigger a retaliatory response of unprecedented magnitude.
“This is an attempt at escalation, but if strikes with such weapons are carried out on Russian territory, the response will be very serious — if not downright devastating. Let them think about that,” President Vladimir Putin warned during remarks broadcast on Russian state television.
He clarified that Moscow views any Tomahawk missile launched by US personnel as a direct American attack on Russia, not a proxy action. “We know who will be pushing the buttons,” he said, adding that such an act would fundamentally alter the conflict.
Putin went further, warning that Russia would respond not only against the launch sites but also against the industrial plants and facilities where these missiles are produced. The threat echoes his earlier statement that Moscow could strike “decision-making centres” and “defence-industry enterprises” if Russian territory were hit — a line first delivered in late November 2024.
Sources:
– Reuters, “Putin says Russia could strike ‘decision-making centres’ in Kyiv,” 28 Nov 2024
– TASS News Agency, “Putin warns of serious consequences if Western missiles strike Russia,” 22 Oct 2025
The Russian leader’s comments follow the deployment of advanced Zircon hypersonic missiles, the testing of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, and renewed warnings from the Kremlin that Moscow’s strategic deterrent “is not for show.”
Putin maintained that Russia “remains open to dialogue,” but added pointedly:
“Dialogue is better than confrontation — but there are limits. Those who push for confrontation must understand the consequences.”
In Washington, President Donald Trump appeared to play down the prospect of Kyiv ever receiving the Tomahawks, stressing that such weapons require extensive training and oversight.
“It would take at least six months, maybe a year, to learn how to use them,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. “They’re highly complex systems. The only way a Tomahawk gets launched is if we fire it — and we’re not going to do that.”
The remarks came amid new US sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil producers — the toughest measures since Trump’s return to the White House, yet still seen in Moscow as symbolic rather than crippling.
“Of course, the sanctions are serious,” Putin said, “but they will not fundamentally harm our economy. What they will do is further erode any remaining trust between our countries.”
Strategic analysts warn that the confrontation now risks entering a far more volatile phase, as Russia couples economic resilience with a modernised strategic arsenal designed to outpace Western missile defences.
With both superpowers trading veiled nuclear threats, Putin’s latest statement underscores a chilling truth: the line between proxy conflict and direct confrontation is growing dangerously thin.
