WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Tuesday Ukraine should not target Moscow, following a report stating that he had encouraged Kyiv to escalate deep strikes into Russian territory, according to media reports.

"No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House when asked whether he thinks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should target Moscow.

When asked whether the United States would send long-range missiles to Ukraine, Trump replied,"No, we're not looking to do that."

Asked if he was on Ukraine's side, Trump said he was on nobody's side.