Trump asked Zelenskyy if Ukraine could hit Moscow

In a dramatic shift from his earlier hands-off rhetoric, US President Donald Trump privately urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to step up strikes inside Russian territory, even asking him directly if Ukraine could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg, if given the right weapons, reported the Financial Times.

"Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? . . . Can you hit St Petersburg too?" Trump asked during a July 4 call with Zelenskyy, FT reported, citing two people briefed on the conversation.
Zelenskyy reportedly replied, "Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons."

The provocative exchange followed a tense call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin just a day earlier, which the US president later described as “bad,” the sources told the British daily.

Trump's call with Zelenskyy is being seen as a direct response to Putin’s continued refusal to engage in ceasefire talks proposed by Washington.

This behind-the-scenes conversation highlights a growing frustration within the Trump administration about Moscow’s intransigence and marks a sharp departure from Trump’s previous campaign promise to end US entanglements in foreign wars. It also adds a surprising layer to his longstanding image as a leader cautious about confronting Russia.

According to the two individuals familiar with the call, Trump signalled support for Ukraine launching long-range strikes, describing the approach as a way to “make them (Russians) feel the pain” and force the Kremlin to negotiate.

While it remains unclear whether the US will actually provide long-range weapons, a Western official familiar with the matter said the conversation reflects an emerging mood among Ukraine’s Western backers -- one that favours deeper, more aggressive strikes on Russian soil to "bring the war to Muscovites". This sentiment, the official noted, is quietly gaining traction among American policymakers as well.

Meanwhile, neither the White House nor the Ukrainian president’s office has responded to requests for comment on the report.

Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened to hit buyers of Russian exports with sanctions unless Russia agrees a peace deal in 50 days, a major shift in policy brought on by frustration with Moscow._Agencies.