❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has not urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider striking Moscow and St. Petersburg, refuting a false report from the Financial Times regarding a call between the two leaders. Speaking to the press outside the White House, President Trump gave an emphatic “no” when asked if he thought the Ukrainians should launch strikes deep into Russia.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump’s remarks refuting the Financial Times story were made outside the White House on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “No, he shouldn’t target Moscow.” — President Trump
🎯IMPACT: Trump’s remarks push back against an earlier false report from the Financial Times that mischaracterized a phone call with Zelensky.
President Donald J. Trump clarified that Ukraine should not launch military strikes deep into Russia, including the targeting of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Trump’s remarks, made outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon, contradict an earlier false report from the Financial Times, which claimed that the America First leader had encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to target the Russian cities.
The Financial Times claimed early Tuesday that during a conversation between the two leaders, Trump asked, “Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? Can you hit St. Petersburg too?” Zelensky allegedly responded confidently, saying, “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.” However, the Trump White House was quick to push back against the report, stating that the newspaper misinterpreted Trump’s comments to Zelensky.
Later Tuesday afternoon, President Trump addressed the false report directly while fielding questions outside the White House. “No, he shouldn’t target Moscow,” Trump said, responding to a question about his call with the Ukrainian leader. Trump went on to address a 50-day window he’s given to Russia to back down from hostilities or face a new round of severe sanctions: “No, I don’t think 50 days is very long, and it could be sooner than that. I don’t think 50 days is very long.”
Q: Should Zelensky target Moscow- Trump: No pic.twitter.com/jNNgBLz348
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) July 15, 2025
As diplomatic avenues remain blocked, the war in Ukraine has entered a particularly violent phase. Russia has carried out a wave of intense bombardments across Ukrainian territory, with some of the heaviest attacks reported since the war began.
Cities in the western part of the country, including Lutsk and Ternopil, were among the hardest hit, while in the Kiev region, warehouses were set on fire by drone and missile strikes.
Christopher Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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