President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. Common Meeting on September 23, 2025.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures North America
disguise caption
toggle caption
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures North America
President Trump on Tuesday shifted his place on whether or not Ukraine ought to maintain out for all of the territory seized by Russia, saying on social media that he thinks Ukraine is able to win all of it again.
It is a reversal from his long-held place that Kyiv would want to surrender a few of its territory to Moscow to finish the battle – resembling Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
However now, “after attending to know and absolutely perceive the Ukraine/Russia Army and Financial state of affairs,” Trump mentioned he believes Ukraine – backed by the European Union and NATO – can win again all its territory.
“Why not?” he mentioned in a put up after he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. Common Meeting, even suggesting that Ukraine might “possibly even go additional than that!”
The reversal is the newest instance of how Trump has swung between deference, frustration and oblique threats towards Russia. Early in his second time period, Trump boasted that his shut relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin would assist him dealer a fast decision to the battle.
However because the battle dragged on, Trump has grown more and more pissed off with Putin. In July, throughout a gathering with the NATO Secretary Common, Trump lashed out at Putin and introduced that he was sending Patriot air protection missiles to Ukraine.
As not too long ago as final month – when Trump met Putin in Alaska to attempt to dealer an finish to the battle – Trump had mentioned he believed “some land-swapping” would happen. Zelenskyy has been resistant to that concept.
Afterward, Trump mentioned the 2 nations wanted to debate “the doable exchanges of territory, considering the present line of contact. Which means, the battle zone.”
However for the reason that Alaska talks, there have been no indicators that Putin is keen to satisfy Zelenskyy. Russia has ramped up its strikes on Ukraine, and there have been a collection of incursions by Russian army plane into NATO airspace within the month for the reason that talks.
Trump mentioned he thinks NATO members ought to shoot down Russian plane in such instances. “Sure, I do,” he mentioned in reply to a query from a reporter.
Requested whether or not he would again up NATO allies if that occurred, Trump mentioned: “Is determined by the circumstance, however you recognize we’re very sturdy towards NATO.”
In his social media put up, Trump mentioned Russia seems like “a paper tiger” as a result of the battle has dragged on for thus lengthy, and mentioned that the US would proceed to produce weapons to NATO. “Good luck to all!” Trump mentioned.
Trump has up to now resisted requires more durable sanctions, insisting that European leaders first have to cease shopping for oil from Russia, in addition to apply steep tariffs for main consumers of Russian oil, like China.
In a pointed speech to world leaders on the United Nations Common Meeting on Tuesday, Trump mentioned it was inexcusable that some NATO members had been nonetheless shopping for Russian power. “Consider it: they’re funding the battle towards themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?”
Zelenskyy mentioned he hoped to see extra sanctions on Russia, and mentioned he supported Trump’s push to get NATO members to cease shopping for Russian power.
Zelenskyy mentioned he had spoken with Slovakia’s prime minister who appeared open to slicing off its imports. “I am undecided the Hungarians are prepared,” Zelenskyy mentioned. Trump mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about it but. “I had a sense if I did, he may cease,” Trump mentioned.
