Trump Raised Striking Moscow, St Petersburg in Zelensky Call: Reports
The Financial Times and The Washington Post, both citing anonymous sources familiar with the call, reported that Trump had encouraged Zelensky to strike deeper into Russia to increase the pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
Trump wanted to "make them feel the pain," as he put it on the July 4 call, the FT reported, and force Russia into peace negotiations. Zelensky said Ukraine could hit the cities if the U.S. supplied the weapons, per the Post.
Newsweek has contacted the White House press office for comment outside of normal business hours.
It comes as Trump hardens his stance against Russia and grows increasingly frustrated with Putin.
As Trump seeks to broker peace, Russia continues to pound Ukrainian cities with drone and missile strikes and advance its troops in the east, intensifying a war the White House is trying to end.
The shift in tactics is welcome news for Ukraine and its European allies, who have long sought to convince Trump to crank the pressure on Putin.
Trump had sought to deliver peace by soothing U.S. relations with Russia and distancing Washington from Ukraine, but now sees himself as misled by Putin.
This is a developing article. Updates to follow.
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