Trump Says Ukraine Should Not Target Moscow, Urges 50-Day Window for Peace Deal
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has told Ukraine that it should not target Moscow, just hours after the Kremlin warned that a fresh US plan to deliver new weapons to Kyiv could derail fragile peace efforts.
Addressing reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said Ukraine must not strike the Russian capital, clarifying recent reports that he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about using US missiles for deeper strikes inside Russia.
“No, he shouldn’t target Moscow,” Trump said firmly when asked if Zelensky should consider hitting the Russian capital.
The statement came a day after Trump announced a dramatic 50-day ultimatum for Russia to strike a peace deal with Ukraine. The Republican president — who campaigned on ending the costly conflict and curbing the billions of dollars in US arms to Kyiv — warned Moscow of severe new tariffs on any nations still trading with Russia if no agreement is reached.
Kremlin: US Weapons Plan May Prolong War
The Kremlin reacted cautiously but critically, saying Washington’s new plan — supported by NATO — would likely embolden Ukraine to prolong the war rather than seek a settlement.
“It seems that such a decision… will be perceived by Kyiv not as a signal for peace but for the continuation of the war,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow needed time to analyze Trump’s comments.
Despite repeated prisoner swaps and rounds of talks under Trump’s renewed push, the war — now well into its third year — has seen Russia reject calls for a full ceasefire while ramping up missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.
Europe Reacts: ‘Share the Burden’
Trump’s fresh push for more NATO support has found mixed reactions in Europe. While most allies welcomed the tougher line against Moscow, the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on Washington to share costs if it wants more weapons delivered to Ukraine.
“If you promise to give the weapons, but say that it’s somebody else who is going to pay for it, it is not really given by you,” Kallas said after a meeting in Brussels.
Some NATO allies — including Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, which joined the alliance after Russia’s 2022 invasion — said they were ready to participate in Trump’s plan.
Sweden’s Defense Minister Pal Jonson confirmed Sweden would contribute, citing Ukraine’s urgent need for stronger air defenses to counter Russia’s “constant bombings and attacks.”
On the Ground: Hope, Doubt, and a Long Fight
For Ukrainians on the frontline, Trump’s statement that Ukraine should not target Moscow brought mixed feelings.
“I don’t believe him. There have been too many promises that haven’t been kept,” said a soldier in eastern Ukraine, using the call sign Shah.
Others worried the promised weapons — including advanced Patriot missile systems — could have made a bigger difference if sent sooner.
“Of course it’s good, but at the same time, time has been lost,” said a fighter nicknamed Master.
Yet for many, any new weapons or leverage — however delayed — is still seen as a lifeline.
“If there is even the slightest chance to improve the situation for us and worsen it for them, then that’s already positive,” said Ruslan, a 29-year-old soldier.
On the streets of Moscow, some residents brushed off Trump’s warnings and timeline as a political maneuver.
“It’s a game of chess,” said Svetlana, a 47-year-old aviation engineer.
“He gave 50 days, and then there will be more. We’re waiting for the next move of our president.”
Russia’s economy, despite harsh sanctions, has so far resisted a deep recession, thanks to energy exports to countries like China and India, and massive state spending on its military machine.
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As the deadline ticks down, the world watches to see if Trump’s strategy — urging peace talks while sending fresh weapons — can break the deadlock or push the conflict into another dangerous phase.
