Trump called on Zelensky to act “more boldly.” He does not believe that Putin will “do something without pressure”

US President Donald Trump privately called on Vladimir Zelensky to act “more boldly” towards Russia, the Kyiv Independent writes , citing a senior Ukrainian official.

According to him, Trump says he actually “doesn’t believe that [Vladimir] Putin will do anything without pressure.”

American officials did not directly confirm that Trump supports Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russia, but noted that the US president “believes in peace through strength.”

According to an RBC-Ukraine source, Trump believes that it is Ukraine’s military pressure that is leading Russia to make “real diplomacy” even possible.

During the last discussion at the G7 summit in mid-June, Trump was "extremely impressed and encouraged" by Ukraine's campaign of long-range strikes against targets deep inside Russia, two Financial Times sources said . He told Zelensky that he was impressed by the recent successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

At the same summit, Trump also agreed to strengthen sanctions against the Russian energy sector, writes FT.