Trump has not ruled out to step into Ukraine longer rockets

Cnn
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When President Donald Trump hardens his position towards Moscow and looking for new ways to finish the conflict, he leaves the view openly to enable the programs of rockets with a longer range into the country, which would enable him to increase deeper in Russia, according to civil servants who are familiar with the matter.

In discussions with European allies in the past few weeks, Trump has not ruled out that certain offensive weapons in Ukraine, including the Ukrainian president of the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, have previously requested but not yet received, said the officials.

Trump has asked about the ability of Ukraine in the past few weeks to carry out hits in Russia deeply in Russia in order to increase the pressure on the Kremlin to end the war, according to a source that was informed about the conversation.

In a recent call with Zelensky, Trump asked about the ability of Ukraine to meet both Moscow and St. Petersburg, the source, a question that was first reported by the Financial Times.

A US official and an official of the White House said that the question was one of many who asked the president about the conflict on the call and seemed to be raised in passing.

But the Ukrainians were stunned and took Trump's ideas seriously. Zelensky said that the strikes could be carried out if the Ukrainians need the weapons, the first source said. After the conversation, between Ukraine, other European countries and the United States, long -distance systems that could be given to Ukraine were led, the source said.

Ukraine has already reached Moscow and the St. Petersburg region with drone attacks.

After the Financial Times reported on Trump's question, the White House said that Trump's words had been taken out of the context.

“President Trump just asked one question and did not encourage any further murder. He tirelessly works to stop the murder and end this war,” press spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN.

The episode underlines the current dynamics between the two countries, since Zelensky tirelessly works to get Trump's ear and not to promise what could only be limited support and commitment of the United States.

When asked whether long -distance missiles were discussed as part of the NATO plan announced on Monday, the general secretary of Allianz said that the system could contain all types of weapons.

“It is both defensive and insulting, so it is all types of weapons. But we did not discuss with the president yesterday.

On Monday, Trump's NATO envoy said Matt Whitaker, the immediate focus on shipping weapons in Ukraine was on defense systems such as the Patriot rocket batteries. But he has not ruled out to provide offensive weapons.

“All weapons are both insulting and defensive,” he said. “Obviously, an air defense system is important and critical of the situation, but at the same time we don't take anything off the table.”

At the end of his term, President Joe Biden allowed the shipping of high-performance long-distance army rocket systems (ATACMS) rockets to Ukraine for use in Russia, although these weapons were unable to reach the two cities in his phone call.

Trump called the move “stupid” and a “big mistake” and asked why he was not consulted when he was preparing to take up his office.

Ukraine has previously requested joint air to Oberer rockets or Jassms, but not yet preserved-fired by F-16 fighter aircraft. European nations have previously made these jets available to Ukraine.

At the moment, however, the priority seems to preserve Ukraine air defense systems -namely the Patriot batteries that can intercept Russian ballistic rockets. These products will be the first to enter the new weapon pipeline, which Trump announced on Monday with the European nations that buy the products and then transferred them to Ukraine.

The weapons will be available to send quickly from existing inventory in Europe and are probably due to new purchases from the USA by European nations.

“When it comes to ammunition and rockets, we will work every hour from now on and make sure that the stuff will get into Ukraine. But of course we know that it is not just patriots,” General Secretary of NATO, Mark Rutte, told CNNS Jake Tapper on Monday, citing other systems with which Cruise rockets were cut off as essential Ukrakine.

“This really discusses everything the United States can still deliver without hurt the defense of the United States itself,” he said.

This story has been updated with additional developments.