‘We need them too’: Trump on Tomahawk missiles

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States cannot exhaust its stockpiles of Tomahawk cruise missiles, the White House said.

Answering reporters after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said the Tomahawks are “very powerful, very precise and very effective — but we need them too.”

“We cannot deplete our inventories for the sake of our country’s security,” he added.

Asked whether Putin had tried to persuade him not to transfer Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Trump replied, “Of course — what do you think? He’d be saying, ‘Please, sell the Tomahawks?’” He also reiterated that “no one wants Tomahawks flying toward them.”

Earlier reports said the possible supply of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine was discussed during the presidents’ phone call. The two leaders agreed to meet in Budapest, though no date has been set.