Trump wanted to "make them feel the pain," as he put it on the July 4 call, the Financial Times reported, and force Russia into peace negotiations. Zelensky said Ukraine could hit the cities if the U.S. supplied the weapons, per the Post.

Donald Trump has issued a 50-day ultimatum threatening sanctions on Russia’s economy by targeting its trading partners to pressure an end to the Ukraine war. Russia is taking the threats seriously but remains ready to respond.