U.S. President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to refrain from targeting Moscow in its ongoing war with Russia on July 15, 2025, advocating a strategic shift to de-escalate tensions.
During a press conference, Trump warned that strikes on the Russian capital could escalate into a NATO-Russia confrontation, potentially triggering “World War III,” and urged Ukrainian forces to focus on fortifying eastern defenses. The statement follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow’s outskirts on July 12, resulting in two civilian deaths and significant property damage, as reported by Russian authorities.
Trump’s position echoes his 2024 campaign pledge to swiftly end the conflict, contrasting with the Pentagon’s support for Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles for long-range strikes, approved in 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the advice as meddling, insisting on the right to defend all territory, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised it as a “prudent stance.”
Military analysts suggest Trump’s comments may preview a 2025 peace summit strategy, though U.S. hawks and European allies, including France, criticize it as weakening Ukraine, with UN data reporting 20,000 Ukrainian casualties in 2025 alone, intensifying the geopolitical debate.