Donald Trump has ruled out sending long-range missiles to Ukraine, after reports suggested he was considering giving Kyiv weapons that could strike as far as Moscow.

Asked on Tuesday whether the US would deliver deep-strike munitions to Ukraine, Mr Trump said: “No, we’re not looking to do that.”

He went on to say that Ukraine should not attack the Russian capital, adding: “I’m on nobody’s side. You know whose side I’m on? Humanity’s side.”

It came after the Financial Times reported that Mr Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, that he wanted Kyiv to “make them [Russians] feel the pain” and force Putin to the negotiating table.

“Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? ... Can you hit St Petersburg too?” Mr Trump reportedly asked in a phone call on July 4. The Ukrainian president replied: “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”