Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has assured NATO that 'firepower' is on its way for Ukraine, amidst speculation about the potential provision of long-range Tomahawk missiles by the United States. This comes as a response to Russia's ongoing 'special military operation' in Ukraine, which NATO perceives as an expansionist threat. The Kremlin has previously warned that the deployment of Western weapons, including long-range missiles, could escalate the conflict and widen the war. However, Hegseth's statement does not explicitly confirm whether the 'firepower' includes the controversial Tomahawk missiles, which could strike deep into Russian territory. The discussion of these missiles comes as President Donald Trump, who has a history of mixed messages on the conflict, is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday. Trump's 'peace through strength' strategy, which he has previously used to broker ceasefires, is now being questioned by some as the war continues. The complexity of the situation is further highlighted by Trump's shifting stance on the conflict, from initially blaming Ukraine to now suggesting that Ukraine could reclaim all its occupied land from Russia. Despite these developments, the war in Ukraine remains a challenging issue, with NATO and the US taking cautious steps to support Ukraine while avoiding direct confrontation with Russia.
