Donald Trump has said Volodymyr Zelensky should not target Moscow after reportedly privately discussing strikes on the Russian capital with the Ukrainian leader and deliberating whether to send long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, according to reports.
"No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Mr Trump told reporters yesterday on the South Lawn of the White House when asked if Mr Zelensky should attack the Russian capital.
In a recent phone call, Mr Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart why he had not struck Moscow to ramp up the pressure on the Kremlin. “We can, if you give us the weapons," Mr Zelensky responded, a source told the The Washington Post.
The US president has privately encouraged Kyiv to step up strikes deep in Russian territory, the Financial Times reported.
He is considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, one of the weapons used by the US in its dramatic strikes on Iran last month, according to the Post.
It comes after the US president said he is “disappointed but not done” with Russian president Vladimir Putin after threatening 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow if it fails to agree a peace deal within 50 days.
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Key Points
- Trump says Zelensky should not target Moscow
- Explained | What are Tomahawk cruise missiles?
- Trump says 'disappointed but not done' with Putin
- Kremlin: Trump's threats are 'very serious'
- Trump threatens Russia with sanctions if no peace deal reached in 50 days
Trump tells Zelensky to 'not target Moscow' after asking about strikes on Kremlin
04:11
,
Arpan Rai
Donald Trump has clarified that he does not want Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to target Moscow, and repeated that Russian president Vladimir Putin should agree to a ceasefire deal by a 50-day deadline or sanctions will kick in.
His comments came after The Financial Times, citing people briefed on discussions, reported on Tuesday that Trump had privately encouraged Ukraine to step up deep strikes on Russia.
The newspaper said that Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky whether he could strike Moscow if the US provided long-range weapons.
"No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Mr Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House when asked if Mr Zelensky should attack the Russian capital.
Mr Trump on Monday announced a toughened stance against Russia for its three-year-old war in Ukraine, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine. He gave Moscow 50 days to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions.
Trump says his sanctions threat is led by frustration with Putin
04:00
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump said his shift in imposing punitive actions on Russia was motivated by frustration with Vladimir Putin.
"We actually had probably four times a deal. And then the deal wouldn't happen because bombs would be thrown out that night and you'd say we're not making any deals," Mr Trump said.
Last week he said, "We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin."
Since returning to the White House promising a quick end to the war, Mr Trump has sought rapprochement with Moscow, speaking several times with Mr Putin.
His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Kyiv's membership in Nato and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.
But the Russian leader has yet to accept a proposal from Mr Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Kyiv. Recent days have seen Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities.
Putin unfazed by Trump threats, claim Kremlin sources
03:00
,
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin will continue fighting in Ukraine and is unfazed by Donald Trump’s threat of further sanctions, three sources close to the Kremlin have told Reuters news agency.
Moscow’s territorial demands may widen as Russian troops advance in the war-torn country, the sources added.
They said the Russian president believes Russia’s economy and military are strong enough to weather additional Western measures
Mr Trump on Monday expressed frustration with Putin's refusal to agree a ceasefire and announced a wave of weapons supplies to Ukraine, including Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. He also threatened further sanctions on Russia unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.
"Putin thinks no one has seriously engaged with him on the details of peace in Ukraine - including the Americans - so he will continue until he gets what he wants," one of the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"Putin values the relationship with Trump and had good discussions with Witkoff, but the interests of Russia come above all else," the person added.
Ukrainian PM officially resigns
01:31
,
Alex Croft
Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday he had officially filed a resignation letter, as a part of a major governmental reshuffle expected this week.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday nominated first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko for the post.
In pictures: Ukraine installs anti-drone nets on roads
Wednesday 16 July 2025 00:00
,
Alex Croft
Sweden to help boost arms supplies to Ukraine, says defence minister
Tuesday 15 July 2025 23:02
,
Alex Croft
Sweden will contribute to efforts to boost arms supplies to Ukraine following US president Donald Trump's decision to supply billions of dollars of weapons, including Patriot missile systems, via Nato.
"We welcome the American decision to make possible increased sanctions against Russia and to pave the way for the delivery of Patriots and other weapon systems to Ukraine," Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson said in an emailed comment to Reuters.
"Sweden will contribute." Jonson did not provide further about the support.
In pictures: Sumy region in flames after Russian drone attack
Tuesday 15 July 2025 22:01
,
Alex Croft
Moscow does not understand Trump's motivations behind recent comments, says Lavrov
Tuesday 15 July 2025 21:00
,
Alex Croft
Moscow wants to understand what motivated US president Donald Trump's statement that Russia must agree to a peace deal in Ukraine within a 50-day deadline, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Lavrov, speaking at a press conference at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers meeting in the Chinese city Tianjin, said he had no doubt that Russia will cope with any new sanctions.
Trump says Zelensky should not target Moscow
Tuesday 15 July 2025 20:12
,
Jabed Ahmed
Donald Trump has said Volodymyr Zelensky should not target Moscow and that Russian President Vladimir Putin should agree to a ceasefire deal by a 50-day deadline or sanctions will kick in.
His comments came after The Financial Times, citing people briefed on discussions, reported on Tuesday that Trump had privately encouraged Ukraine to step up deep strikes on Russia.
The newspaper added that Trump asked Zelensky whether he could strike Moscow if the U.S. provided long-range weapons.
"No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House when asked if Zelensky should attack the Russian capital.
Watch: Trump seems surprised that Putin doesn't honor his word
Tuesday 15 July 2025 20:02
,
Alex Croft
Russia fires 267 drones at Ukraine overnight
Tuesday 15 July 2025 19:00
,
Alex Croft
Russian forces fired 267 drones at Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, Kyiv’s air force has said.
Air defences destroyed a total of 178 of these drones, while 23 strikes were recorded across seven locations.
Drones were fired across the north, south, east and centre of the country form Monday afternoon into Tuesday.
Around 66 decoy drones disappeared from the radar or were suppressed by electronic warfare, the air force added according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Lammy welcomes Trump's decision to allow Kyiv to use US weapons
Tuesday 15 July 2025 18:31
,
Alex Croft
British foreign minister David Lammy has welcomed Donald Trump’s decision to allow US military equipment to be used by Ukrainian forces.
“Good discussion with [US secretary of state] @marcorubio last night,” Mr Lammy wrote on X.
“I welcomed President Trump’s decision enabling NATO Allies to purchase vital US military equipment for Ukraine’s defence, including Patriots, and his threat of tariffs if there is no peace deal in 50 days.”
Moscow ready to negotiate after Trump sanctions threat, says minister
Tuesday 15 July 2025 18:01
,
Alex Croft
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday that Moscow is ready to negotiate after US president Donald Trump threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports
But Ryabkov added that Russia did not warm to ultimatums.
Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened to levy sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal in Ukraine.
'Trump did not go as far as Russian markets had feared'
Tuesday 15 July 2025 17:29
,
Alex Croft
Artyom Nikolayev, an analyst from financial information firm Invest Era, said the US president Donald Trump did not go as far as Russian markets had feared.
"Trump performed below market expectations. He gave 50 days during which the Russian leadership can come up with something and extend the negotiation track. Moreover, Trump likes to postpone and extend such deadlines," he said.
Trump changes tune on Nato
Tuesday 15 July 2025 17:00
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump, once a fierce critic of the Nato, is now far more positive about the future of the military alliance.
The US president was asked by the BBC whether Nato had become “obsolete” - a word he has used to describe it before.
"No. I think Nato is now becoming the opposite of that,” he told the broadcaster, adding that the alliance is “paying their own bills”.
In late June, Nato allies agreed to boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of gross domestic product, a move the White House had repeatedly demanded since taking office.
Mr Trump added that he still believes in collective defence to allow smaller countries to defend themselves against bigger ones.
Zelensky thanks Trump after he threatens fresh sanctions on Russia
Tuesday 15 July 2025 16:30
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Donald Trump last night after the US president threatened a fresh batch of heavy sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin fails to reach a peace deal.
Mr Trump warned on Monday that he would implement 100 per cent tariffs “if we don’t have a deal in 50 days”.
The Ukrainian president held a phone call with Mr Trump after the US president had met with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in the White House on Monday.
“It was a very good conversation,” Mr Zelensky said after the phone call. “Thank you for the willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace.
“It’s important that we have such a good relationship, and that the Alliance countries are working to increase defense spending.”
The pair discussed how to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks and agreed to catch up more often by phone, Mr Zelensky added.
Trump 'still believes Russia will win' - report
Tuesday 15 July 2025 16:11
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump still believes Russia will win the war against Ukraine, despite committing a significant military aid package to Kyiv.
The US president has grown increasingly frustrated by Vladimir Putin and has become more willing to directly support Kyiv in its defence against Russia - but a White House official told Politico that he still believes Moscow holds the cards.
"The president’s view is Russia is going to win, it’s a matter of how long it takes," the official said.
They added that this is because Russia has a larger economy and bigger army, with "more than enough bodies to throw into the meat grinder".
"And although they are making slow progress, they are still making progress. The president just wants to stop the killing," they added.
In pictures: US Tomahawk missiles in action
Tuesday 15 July 2025 15:50
,
Alex Croft
Several injured in Russia as 55 Ukrainian drones downed overnight
Tuesday 15 July 2025 15:29
,
Alex Croft
Several people were injured and houses and non-residential buildings were damaged as a result of Ukraine's overnight drone attack on Russia, regional officials said.
The drones were downed in Russia's southwestern regions of Lipetsk and Voronezh, regional governors said this morning.
The Russian defence ministry said on Telegram that its units destroyed 55 Ukrainian drones overnight over five Russian regions and the Black Sea, including three over the Lipetsk region.
The full extent of damage from the attacks was not immediately known. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the attack.
Russia's air defence units destroyed 12 drones over the Voronezh region that borders Ukraine, governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.
"Unfortunately, there were injuries," Mr Gusev said. "In central Voronezh, several people sustained minor injuries due to debris from a downed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles)."
Several apartments in multi-storey buildings in the city of Voronezh that is the administrative centre of the broader Voronezh region were damaged, as well as houses in the suburbs, Mr Gusev said.
Additionally, several commercial facilities throughout the region were damaged by falling drone debris, he said, without providing further details.
In the city of Yelets in the Lipetsk region a drone crashed in an industrial zone, regional governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram.
"One person was injured and is receiving all necessary medical assistance," Mr Artamonov said.
Trump says his sanctions threat is led by frustration with Putin
Tuesday 15 July 2025 15:04
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump said his shift in imposing punitive actions on Russia was motivated by frustration with Vladimir Putin.
"We actually had probably four times a deal. And then the deal wouldn't happen because bombs would be thrown out that night and you'd say we're not making any deals," Mr Trump said.
Last week he said, "We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin."
Since returning to the White House promising a quick end to the war, Mr Trump has sought rapprochement with Moscow, speaking several times with Mr Putin.
His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Kyiv's membership in Nato and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.
But the Russian leader has yet to accept a proposal from Mr Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Kyiv. Recent days have seen Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities.
Putin unfazed by Trump threats, claim Kremlin sources
Tuesday 15 July 2025 14:42
,
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin will continue fighting in Ukraine and is unfazed by Donald Trump’s threat of further sanctions, three sources close to the Kremlin have told Reuters news agency.
Moscow’s territorial demands may widen as Russian troops advance in the war-torn country, the sources added.
They said the Russian president believes Russia’s economy and military are strong enough to weather additional Western measures
Mr Trump on Monday expressed frustration with Putin's refusal to agree a ceasefire and announced a wave of weapons supplies to Ukraine, including Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. He also threatened further sanctions on Russia unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.
"Putin thinks no one has seriously engaged with him on the details of peace in Ukraine - including the Americans - so he will continue until he gets what he wants," one of the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"Putin values the relationship with Trump and had good discussions with Witkoff, but the interests of Russia come above all else," the person added.
Ukrainian PM officially resigns
Tuesday 15 July 2025 14:27
,
Alex Croft
Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday he had officially filed a resignation letter, as a part of a major governmental reshuffle expected this week.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday nominated first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko for the post.
Sweden to help boost arms supplies to Ukraine, says defence minister
Tuesday 15 July 2025 14:04
,
Alex Croft
Sweden will contribute to efforts to boost arms supplies to Ukraine following US president Donald Trump's decision to supply billions of dollars of weapons, including Patriot missile systems, via Nato.
"We welcome the American decision to make possible increased sanctions against Russia and to pave the way for the delivery of Patriots and other weapon systems to Ukraine," Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson said in an emailed comment to Reuters.
"Sweden will contribute." Jonson did not provide further about the support.
In pictures: Sumy region in flames after Russian drone attack
Tuesday 15 July 2025 13:50
,
Alex Croft
Analysis | Trump is looking at making money out of Nato – not saving Ukraine
Tuesday 15 July 2025 13:38
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump has not turned against Vladimir Putin. Rather, he has just announced a big day of future sales for the US arms industry with a buying bonanza for Ukraine by Nato.
With the secretary general of Nato sitting next to him in the Oval Office, the US president warned that Russia would face “100 per cent” tariffs if it did not agree to a ceasefire with Kyiv inside 50 days.
He went on to criticise Putin several times for his warm approach and manner on the telephone which he then followed up by renewed missile attacks on Ukraine.
World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Trump pledges more Patriots for Ukraine in coming days - ICYMI
Tuesday 15 July 2025 13:27
,
Alex Croft
US president Donald Trump has said billions of dollars of US weapons would go to Ukraine, including more than a dozen Patriot air defence missiles.
"We're going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they'll be sent to Nato," Mr Trump said, adding that Washington's Nato allies would pay for them.
The weapons would include Patriot air defence missiles Ukraine has urgently sought, he said.
"It's a full complement with the batteries," Mr Trump said. "We're going to have some come very soon, within days."
"We have one country that has 17 Patriots getting ready to be shipped... we're going to work a deal where the 17 will go or a big portion of the 17 will go to the war site,” he said.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, who was sitting alongside Mr Trump in the Oval Office, said Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada all wanted to be a part of rearming Ukraine.
Moscow does not understand Trump's motivations behind recent comments, says Lavrov
Tuesday 15 July 2025 13:12
,
Alex Croft
Moscow wants to understand what motivated US president Donald Trump's statement that Russia must agree to a peace deal in Ukraine within a 50-day deadline, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Lavrov, speaking at a press conference at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers meeting in the Chinese city Tianjin, said he had no doubt that Russia will cope with any new sanctions.
Watch: Trump threatens Russia with sanctions and tariffs if peace with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days
Tuesday 15 July 2025 12:57
,
Alex Croft
Trump changes tune on Nato
Tuesday 15 July 2025 12:42
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump, once a fierce critic of the Nato, is now far more positive about the future of the military alliance.
The US president was asked by the BBC whether Nato had become “obsolete” - a word he has used to describe it before.
"No. I think Nato is now becoming the opposite of that,” he told the broadcaster, adding that the alliance is “paying their own bills”.
In late June, Nato allies agreed to boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of gross domestic product, a move the White House had repeatedly demanded since taking office.
Mr Trump added that he still believes in collective defence to allow smaller countries to defend themselves against bigger ones.
Russia fires 267 drones at Ukraine overnight
Tuesday 15 July 2025 12:27
,
Alex Croft
Russian forces fired 267 drones at Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, Kyiv’s air force has said.
Air defences destroyed a total of 178 of these drones, while 23 strikes were recorded across seven locations.
Drones were fired across the north, south, east and centre of the country form Monday afternoon into Tuesday.
Around 66 decoy drones disappeared from the radar or were suppressed by electronic warfare, the air force added according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Lammy welcomes Trump's decision to allow Kyiv to use US weapons
Tuesday 15 July 2025 12:11
,
Alex Croft
British foreign minister David Lammy has welcomed Donald Trump’s decision to allow US military equipment to be used by Ukrainian forces.
“Good discussion with [US secretary of state] @marcorubio last night,” Mr Lammy wrote on X.
“I welcomed President Trump’s decision enabling NATO Allies to purchase vital US military equipment for Ukraine’s defence, including Patriots, and his threat of tariffs if there is no peace deal in 50 days.”
Good discussion with @marcorubio last night.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 15, 2025
I welcomed President Trump’s decision enabling NATO Allies to purchase vital US military equipment for Ukraine’s defence, including Patriots, and his threat of tariffs if there is no peace deal in 50 days.
'Trump did not go as far as Russian markets had feared'
Tuesday 15 July 2025 11:51
,
Alex Croft
Artyom Nikolayev, an analyst from financial information firm Invest Era, said the US president Donald Trump did not go as far as Russian markets had feared.
"Trump performed below market expectations. He gave 50 days during which the Russian leadership can come up with something and extend the negotiation track. Moreover, Trump likes to postpone and extend such deadlines," he told Reuters news agency.
Kremlin: Trump's threats are 'very serious'
Tuesday 15 July 2025 11:34
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin has responded to Donald Trump’s recent threats against Russia, describing them as “very serious”.
In a major policy shift underscoring his growing frustration with president Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump on Monday announced new deliveries of weapons to Ukraine and threatened secondary tariffs on Moscow if it fails to agree a peace deal on Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded: "The US president's statements are very serious. Some of them are addressed personally to President Putin.
"We certainly need time to analyse what was said in Washington. And if and when president Putin deems it necessary, he will definitely comment."
Peskov continued, apparently referring to news of fresh weapons deliveries to Kyiv: "Decisions which are being made in Washington, in NATO countries, and squarely in Brussels, are perceived by the Ukrainian side not as a signal for peace, but as a signal to continue the war."
In pictures: US Tomahawk missiles in action
Tuesday 15 July 2025 11:29
,
Alex Croft
Moscow ready to negotiate after Trump sanctions threat, says minister
Tuesday 15 July 2025 11:12
,
Alex Croft
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday that Moscow is ready to negotiate after US president Donald Trump threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports
But Ryabkov added that Russia did not warm to ultimatums.
Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened to levy sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal in Ukraine.
What are the Tomahawk cruise missiles Trump could send to Ukraine?
Tuesday 15 July 2025 10:52
,
Alex Croft
Technology editor and science reporter Andrew Griffin writes:
The Tomahawk missile has been in use since it was developed in the late 1970s. While it has undergone a range of different upgrades, it maintains the same basic design that dropped as part of the first Gulf War in 1991.
And the system for firing them is much the same too. The missiles – weighing in at 3,500 pounds and measuring 20 feet long – are flung at 550 miles an hour from the cruisers, destroyers and submarines that carry them.
Once they hit the air they open out 3.5-foot wings, allowing them to trundle along quietly, close to the ground, until they’re needed.
Strapped to the missiles are a set of explosives, ready to destroy wherever they land. But they also carry with them a host of technologies: GPS and other mapping tools, satellite connections and a navigation system and connection that means that they can loiter around in the air, awaiting the message that they should drop down – and be flown into specific locations once they are.
The same thing that makes them so useful and so fearsome – their power, precision and price – is also what makes them such a significant statement. Preparing and firing a Tomahawk is a costly and careful procedure, one that is only activated when the US and its navy intends to make a destructive and deadly point.
Yulia Svyrydenko: Ukraine’s new prime minister who masterminded key Trump deal
Tuesday 15 July 2025 10:39
,
Alex Croft
President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s new prime minister in the latest reshuffle of his cabinet.
Ms Svyrydenko, 39, has been serving as first deputy prime minister and economic development and trade minister since November 2021. She had been appointed to lead the revival of Ukraine’s struggling economy only months before Russia invaded in February 2022 and made her task more difficult.
Mr Zelensky met with Ms Svyrydenko on Monday and discussed the “implementation of agreements with European and American partners regarding support for Ukraine reached during the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference”.
If her nomination is approved by parliament, which appears likely, Ms Svyrydenko will replace Denys Shmyhal, who is poised to take over as the war-torn country’s defence minister.
Arpan Rai reports:
Trump 'still believes Russia will win' - report
Tuesday 15 July 2025 10:13
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump still believes Russia will win the war against Ukraine, despite committing a significant military aid package to Kyiv.
The US president has grown increasingly frustrated by Vladimir Putin and has become more willing to directly support Kyiv in its defence against Russia - but a White House official told Politico that he still believes Moscow holds the cards.
"The president’s view is Russia is going to win, it’s a matter of how long it takes," the official said.
They added that this is because Russia has a larger economy and bigger army, with "more than enough bodies to throw into the meat grinder".
"And although they are making slow progress, they are still making progress. The president just wants to stop the killing," they added.
