<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="President Donald Trump"><span>President Donald Trump</span></a><span> hardens his position towards Moscow and seeks new ways to bring its war in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/russia-ukraine" rel="" target="_blank" title="Ukraine to an end"><span>Ukraine to an end</span></a><span>, he says he isn't looking to deliver Kyiv longer-range missiles that could strike targets deeper into Russia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No, we're not looking to do that," Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for an event in Pittsburgh.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Still, in conversations with European allies over the past several weeks, Trump has not ruled out allowing certain offensive weapons into Ukraine, including products Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously requested from the United States but not yet received, officials familiar with the matter said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-memo-pam-bondi-says-no-change-to-position-on-files-after-donald-trump-suggests-releasing-more/9899d92b-b7a2-4cc1-9d46-f53fbbf92484"><strong><span>Bondi says no change to position on Epstein after Trump suggests releasing more files</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has also asked about Ukraine's ability to carry out strikes deep inside Russia in recent weeks in an effort to increase pressure on the Kremlin to drive an end to the war, according to a source briefed on the conversation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a recent phone call with Zelensky, Trump asked about Ukraine's ability to hit both Moscow and St Petersburg, the source said, a question first reported by the </span><em><span>Financial Times</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A US official and a White House official said the question was one of many the president asked about the conflict on the call, and seemed to be raised in passing.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/trump-says-not-looking-to-deliver-long-range-missiles-to-ukraine-even-as-offensive-weapons-remain-on-table/50a05656-8056-4bf7-a7bf-2d1ffa6a7ce5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Ukrainians were stunned and took Trump's ideas seriously.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Zelensky said that the strikes could be carried out if the Ukrainians had the weapons needed, the first source said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After the conversation, there has been follow-up discussion between Ukraine, other European countries and the US about long-range systems that could be given to Ukraine, the source said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/stone-of-destiny-aussie-charged-with-malicious-mischief-after-allegedly-breaking-perth-museum-display-in-scotland/4b3c9908-5231-4fed-b178-8a34adf0cbbd" rel="" target="_blank" title="Aussie accused of breaking Scottish Stone of Destiny museum display"><strong><span>Aussie accused of breaking Scottish Stone of Destiny museum display</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ukraine has already been reaching Moscow and the St Petersburg area with drone strikes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine should not target Russia's capital and largest city.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Trump said, referring to Zelensky. And the president said he wasn't taking any particular side in the conflict.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm on nobody's side," he said. "You know whose side I'm on? Humanity's side."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After the Financial Times reported on Trump's question, the White House said Trump's words had been taken out of context.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"President Trump was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing. He's working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war," press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The episode underscores the current dynamic between the two countries, as Zelensky works tirelessly to get Trump's ear and does not want to squander what might be limited support and engagement from the United States.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nasa-release-closest-ever-look-at-the-sun-after-probe/6fa84f60-a0fa-4ca7-8603-ec8f2c0d70db"><strong><span>Closest ever photos of the sun reveal 'space weather threat' origins</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Asked whether long-range offensive missiles were under discussion as part of the NATO plan announced Monday, the alliance's secretary general said the scheme could include all types of weapons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's both defensive and offensive, so it's all kinds of weapons. But we have not discussed in detail yesterday with the president.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is really being worked through with the Pentagon, by the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, together with the Ukrainians," Mark Rutte said after meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Monday, Trump's NATO envoy Matt Whitaker said the immediate focus on shipping weapons to Ukraine was on defensive systems, like the Patriot missile batteries. But he didn't rule out providing offensive weapons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All weapons are both offensive and defensive," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Obviously an air defence system is important and critical for the situation, but at the same time we're not taking anything off the table."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/fall-river-fire-nine-dead-residents-trapped-as-flames-tear-through-us-assisted-living-facility/33164f18-aaf4-492a-92ef-352a1270113e" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nine dead, residents trapped as flames tear through US assisted-living facility"><strong><span>Nine dead, residents trapped as flames tear through US assisted-living facility</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the end of his term, President Joe Biden allowed shipments of powerful long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to Ukraine for use inside Russia, though those weapons would not be able to reach the two cities Trump questioned Zelensky about in his phone call.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump called the move "stupid" and a "big mistake," and questioned why he wasn't consulted as he was preparing to take office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ukraine has also previously requested — but not yet received – Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, which are fired from F-16 fighter jets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>European nations have previously provided those jets to Ukraine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For now, however, the priority appears to be getting Ukraine air defence systems — namely, the Patriot batteries that can intercept Russian ballistic missiles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those products will be the first to enter the new weapons pipeline that Trump announced Monday, involving European nations purchasing the products and then transferring them to Ukraine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/teslas-autopilot-system-is-in-the-spotlight-at-a-miami-trial-over-a-student-killed-while-stargazing/5bc33630-8fcf-48ea-8ca2-94a20e3ad8a9"><strong><span>Tesla denies responsibility after stargazer struck by car on 'autopilot'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The weapons will be available to ship quickly from existing stockpiles in Europe, and will likely be backfilled by new purchases from the US by European nations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When it comes to ammunition and missiles, we will work on this from now on, every hour, making sure that the stuff gets into Ukraine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But of course, we know it's not only Patriots," Rutte told CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday, citing other systems used to intercept cruise missiles as essential to Ukraine's defenses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is really discussing everything the US can still deliver without hurting the defense of the US itself," he said.</span></div></div>