President Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to strike deep in Russian territory, even floating Moscow as a potential target, two sources briefed on the call told the Financial Times on Tuesday.
Trump held a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on July 4, in which Trump reportedly asked if the Ukrainian president could strike targets such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg if the U.S. gave them long-range weapons, sources told the Financial Times. The U.S. recently greenlit sending offensive weapons to Ukraine through NATO on Monday, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 50 days to make a deal before the U.S. enacts massive tariffs targeting the Russian economy.
“Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? Can you hit St. Petersburg too?” Trump reportedly asked Zelenskyy on the call, sources told the Financial Times. Zelenskyy reportedly replied: “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”
Trump reportedly signaled that he was partial to the idea of deep strikes in order to “make them [Russians] feel the pain,” sources told the Financial Times. The phone call reportedly led to a meeting in Rome in which both sides laid out a list of long-range weapons that could be exchanged.
Trump threatened Monday to levy “severe” sanctions and tariffs on Russia if it does not make peace with Ukraine in 50 days while meeting with NATO Secretary Mark Rutte. Trump has voiced increasing frustration with Putin, saying during the meeting that he was “very unhappy” with the Russian president while accusing him of stalling negotiations.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress are also pursuing a bill that would permit Trump to levy additional 500% tariffs on imports coming from countries buying Russian uranium, gas and oil. Putin reportedly remains confident that Russia can effectively weather any Western sanctions and continue to prosecute the war, Kremlin sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
In early July, the Trump administration paused Patriot missile defense system shipments to Ukraine pending a weapons stockpile review, but Trump reversed the decision just days later.
The White House and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
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