President Trump warns Ukraine not to target Russia

According to RIA Novosti on July 16, Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump warned that Ukraine should not target Moscow.

“Mr. Zelensky should not target Moscow,” Reuters said.

Also at a press conference at the White House, President Trump said the US has no plans to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine.

According to Mr Trump, a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin depends on Moscow’s next actions. Regarding the 50-day deadline he gave Moscow to end the conflict in Ukraine, Mr Trump said that was a “very long time”, and the conflict could be resolved sooner.

On the Ukraine issue, President Trump affirmed that he stands on the “side of humanity” and on no one else's side.

Notably, the Financial Times and the Washington Post previously published documents claiming that the White House chief had urged the Ukrainian leader to launch attacks on Moscow and St. Petersburg. According to the Financial Times, President Trump did so as part of his strategy to “force Russia to negotiate.” According to the Washington Post, Mr. Zelensky asked the US leader to provide weapons to attack Russia.

White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt quickly denied the information in these publications. According to Ms. Leavitt, President Trump in a conversation with Mr. Zelensky did not call on him to attack Moscow and St. Petersburg, the US President "worked tirelessly" to end the conflict in Ukraine.