In a striking development, Donald Trump has signaled through his envoy that Ukraine may be permitted to launch long-range strikes deep into Russian territory, potentially using powerful American-made Tomahawk missiles, as the Daily Mail reports.

This news comes as Trump indicates support for such military actions, while Russia warns against U.S. involvement and President Vladimir Putin orders a massive military conscription drive.

The discussion around Ukraine’s military capabilities intensified when Keith Kellogg, America’s special envoy to Ukraine, spoke on Sunday about Trump’s stance. Kellogg suggested that Trump and Vice President JD Vance have expressed approval for Kyiv to conduct strikes with no safe zones inside Russia.

He emphasized this position by stating, “I think reading what he (Trump) has said, and reading what Vice President Vance has said...the answer is yes. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries.”

Tomahawk missiles spark debate

Vance, in a separate interview on Fox, clarified that Trump would ultimately decide whether Ukraine and European allies could acquire Tomahawk missiles, which can strike targets over 1,500 miles away.

These weapons have been a long-standing request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to bolster defense against Russian aggression. However, the potential transfer of such advanced weaponry has raised significant concerns about escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Russia questions U.S. role

Russia swiftly reacted to these statements, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressing skepticism about the implications of supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine.

Peskov questioned, “The question, as before, is this: who can launch these missiles...? Can only Ukrainians launch them, or do American soldiers have to do that?”

He further pressed, “Who is determining the targeting of these missiles? The American side or the Ukrainians themselves?”

Putin responds with warnings

Russia also announced it would closely examine whether any Tomahawk strikes by Ukraine relied on targeting data provided by the U.S., a move that could draw Western nations deeper into the conflict.

President Putin has previously cautioned that sharing intelligence for deep strikes into Russia could make Western countries direct participants in the war.

Peskov downplayed the potential impact of such missiles, stating, “Even if this happens, there's no panacea that can change the situation on the front for the Kyiv regime right now. There's no magic weapon. And whether it's Tomahawks or other missiles, they won't be able to change the dynamic.”

Russian conscription push begins

Amid these escalating tensions, Putin issued a decree on Monday for a significant conscription effort, calling up 135,000 citizens between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

This marks Russia’s largest autumn draft since 2016, and combined with the 160,000 conscripted in the spring, 2025 will see the biggest annual call-up in nearly a decade.

Russia typically drafts men aged 18 to 30 twice a year for compulsory service, usually lasting one year within its borders, though some reports indicate conscripts have been deployed to the Ukrainian front.

Long-Term Growth of Russian Forces

Conscripts who complete training are often prioritized for wartime mobilization, adding to the pool of potential combatants.

Since the conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022, Putin has ramped up military spending to levels not seen since the Soviet era and steadily expanded the armed forces.

In September 2024, he ordered an increase in active soldiers to 1.5 million, positioning Russia’s military as one of the largest globally, while annual conscription numbers have risen by about 5% each year since 2022.