• Trump asked Zelensky if Ukraine could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg if given long-range weapons.
• Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's capability if supported with the necessary armaments.
• This dialogue represents a shift in Trump's previously cautious stance toward Russia.

In a significant departure from his earlier rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump recently urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider striking deep inside Russia. During a July 4 call, Trump reportedly asked, "Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? Can you hit St. Petersburg too?" to which Zelenskyy responded affirmatively, saying, "Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons," as reported by SCMP and IndiaTimes.

This provocative exchange followed a call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Trump expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in diplomacy. According to the Financial Times, Trump's mindset reflects frustration with Moscow's refusal to engage in peace talks and signals a willingness from the U.S. to support Ukraine in escalating its military operations, potentially using long-range strike systems like ATACMS missiles, as reported by Newsweek and SCMP.

The change in Trump's approach is viewed favorably by Ukraine and its European allies, who have long urged the U.S. to adopt a more aggressive posture against Russia. Trump's comments are perceived as an effort to impose greater pressure on Putin, especially as military actions escalate in Ukraine, wherein Russia has intensified its drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian cities, according to IndiaTimes and Newsweek.