President Donald Trump reportedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whether Ukraine could strike deep into Russia — including Moscow and St. Petersburg — during a July 4 phone call, raising eyebrows over the U.S. president’s intentions just one day after a tense call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? … Can you hit St. Petersburg too?” Trump asked, according to multiple sources cited by the Financial Times.
Zelensky reportedly responded, “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”
The report suggests Trump was gauging Ukraine’s offensive capabilities as the Kremlin continues its brutal summer assault. The White House, however, rejected the framing of the exchange, emphasizing that Trump’s question was not a call for escalation but part of his broader strategy to end the war.
“President Trump was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “He’s working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war.”
Leavitt also blasted the Financial Times, saying it’s “notorious for taking words wildly out of context.”
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