Trump Reportedly Asks Zelenskyy Ukraine's Option To Attack Russia With Long-range Weapons

JAKARTA - United States President Donald Trump has personally encouraged Ukraine to step up an in-depth attack on Russian territory.

Trump reportedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he could attack Moscow if the US provided long-range weapons, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, July 15, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The newspaper, citing two people familiar with the conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy, said the US president had asked his Ukrainian counterparts whether he could strike military targets deep within Russian territory if he provided weapons capable of doing so.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said he had spoken with President Donald Trump after the announcement of a new weapon to Ukraine and thanked him for his support.

"The conversation was very good. I thank him for his willingness to support Ukraine and continue to work together to stop killings and realize lasting and fair peace," President Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

In addition, he also said he had had excellent conversations with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who met with President Trump at the White House on Monday.

President Zelensky yesterday met with US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, discussing increasing Ukraine's air defenses and buying weapons by Kyiv with European help.

That followed President Trump's statement on Sunday about the delivery of Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine.

"We discussed the path to peace and what we can do together practically to get it closer. This includes strengthening Ukraine's air defenses, joint production, and procuring defense weapons in collaboration with Europe," he wrote of a meeting with Kellogg on X.

"And of course, sanctions against Russia and those who help it," he said.