US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Ukraine “should not target Moscow,” pushing back against reports that he had encouraged Kyiv to carry out deeper strikes inside Russian territory.

When asked by reporters on the South Lawn of the White House whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should target Moscow, Trump replied, “No, he shouldn’t target Moscow.”

Trump also dismissed the idea of sending long-range missiles to Ukraine, stating, “No, we’re not looking to do that.”

Pressed on whether he supports Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, Trump responded, “I’m on nobody’s side,” according to Xinhua news agency.

The comments came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked Trump for expressing support during a phone call. Zelensky described their conversation as “very good” and welcomed Trump’s desire to work toward ending the war with Russia.

“I spoke with President Donald Trump. It was a very good conversation,” Zelensky posted on X. “Thank you for the willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace.”

Zelensky also noted that Trump shared details from a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and emphasized the importance of ongoing defense cooperation among NATO countries.

Trump’s statements mark a cautious approach as he positions himself amid global efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and avoid further escalation. His remarks signal a reluctance to authorize direct US involvement in expanding the military scope of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.