(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has rejected claims circulating in the media that Washington intends to equip Ukraine with weaponry capable of targeting areas deep inside Russian territory.

According to a news outlet, which cited sources with knowledge of the matter on Monday, Trump was reportedly evaluating the possibility of sending Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) to Kiev.

These American-manufactured missiles can reach distances of up to 1,000 kilometers, depending on the variant, and could potentially pose a threat to major Russian cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg if deployed from Ukrainian-operated F-16 aircraft.

During a press interaction on Tuesday, when asked by reporters about potential shipments of such extended-range munitions to Ukraine, Trump firmly stated: “No, we are not looking to do that.”

On the same day, a news agency revealed that Trump had supposedly asked Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in a private setting whether he would be able to strike Moscow and St. Petersburg. Zelensky allegedly responded, “absolutely,” contingent on the United States providing Kiev with the necessary arms.

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