As President Donald Trump adopts a firmer stance toward Moscow amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, he has stated that he is not inclined to provide Ukraine with longer-range missiles capable of reaching deeper into Russia. Upon departing the White House for an event in Pittsburgh, Trump clarified to reporters, “No, we’re not looking to do that.”
However, in discussions with European allies over recent weeks, he has not entirely excluded the option of supplying offensive weapons to Ukraine. These include armaments that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested previously but has yet to receive. Sources indicate Trump has shown interest in Ukraine’s capability to strike major Russian cities, including Moscow and St Petersburg, to exert additional pressure on the Kremlin to end the conflict. Zelensky reportedly affirmed that such strikes could occur if equipped with the appropriate weapons.
Following their conversation, further talks have taken place involving Ukraine, other European nations, and the United States regarding the provision of long-range systems. Despite Ukraine’s ability to launch drone strikes into the Moscow and St Petersburg areas, Trump has advised against targeting Russia’s capital, reinforcing his stance of neutrality in the conflict, stating, “I’m on nobody’s side. … You know whose side I’m on? Humanity’s side.”
Following the Financial Times’ report about his inquiries, Trump faced clarification from the White House, asserting that his comments were misconstrued. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised that Trump is working diligently to halt violence and find a resolution to the war.
This scenario highlights the intricacies of the relationship between Ukraine and the U.S., particularly as Zelensky seeks to maximise limited support from the U.S. Amidst ongoing discussions, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte indicated that all types of weaponry, both defensive and offensive, might be included in future plans. Trump’s envoy, Matt Whitaker, noted that the immediate focus is on providing defensive systems, like Patriot missile batteries, though he did not discount the provision of offensive arms, stating that all weapons serve both purposes.
At the conclusion of his presidency, Joe Biden had allowed shipments of significant long-range systems to Ukraine, which Trump later critiqued as a “big mistake.” For the moment, the priority lies in furnishing Ukraine with air defence systems, paramount for intercepting Russian missile attacks. The newly announced weapons pipeline aims to expedite the transfer of these critical supplies from European stockpiles.