U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, endorses during a Senate speech on Oct. 16, 2025, intensification of economic pressure on Russia and deployment of cruise missiles to Ukraine in an effort to end the war started by Russia in 2022. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of the U.S. Senate’s YouTube channel)
TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran reaffirmed Friday a belief that United States’ interests require delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine and application of intense economic pressure on Russia to end its unjustified military invasion launched in 2022.
Moran, who has represented Kansas in Congress for more than a quarter century, said in a speech Thursday to Senate colleagues the war between Ukraine and Russia was a threat to stability of the United States.
The Republican senator said there was merit to transferring American-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Making the cruise missiles available to Ukraine would bring high-impact armaments within range of Moscow.
“This weaponry will strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory, deter further Russian aggression and help level the battlefield as negotiations hopefully move forward,” Moran said. “By providing advanced, precision-strike systems, America demonstrates that our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty is backed not only by words, but by legitimate support that can alter the course of this war.”
His remarks came after President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and before Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“As the conflict in Ukraine has surpassed the three-year mark, Putin remains undeterred in his mission to carry out his unjust war on the Ukrainian people,” the senator said. “Each day this war continues, lives are lost and the safety, economic stability and global leadership of the United States are threatened. This war must end.”
He commended the Trump administration for considering transfer of the missiles to Ukraine and for promoting conversations between Russia and Ukraine on finding a “durable and just peace.”
Bipartisan legislation pending in Congress should be adopted to intensify sanctions against Russia’s economy and trade, Moran said.
“By cutting off the resources that allow Putin to fund this war, we can hasten the path to success in finding peace,” he said. “It is imperative that the United States stands firm in its support for Ukraine and, in doing so, places significant pressure on Putin to show our adversaries that democracy will not go undefended.”
