Trump Says Kyiv Could Retake All Of Ukraine From Russia
In a major shift in stance, President Donald Trump has said Ukraine can retake "all of Ukraine back in its original form," calling Russia economically weak and militarily ineffective. Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN on Tuesday, Trump posted on Truth Social that "Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble" and urged Ukraine to act now with NATO and EU support. He had previously hinted at Ukraine needing to give up land for peace, but now says even "going further than that" might be possible.
Trump's comments sparked surprise, even from Zelensky, who called it a "big shift" and a "positive signal." The president also backed NATO nations shooting down Russian aircraft that breach their airspace, adding that the US would keep supplying weapons to NATO, "for NATO to do what they want with them." Trump said Russia "has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years" and criticized NATO members for still buying Russian oil, saying they’re "funding the war against themselves."
Though Trump didn’t mention Crimea directly, his tone suggests a harder stance on Russia than in past months. He also threatened strong new tariffs if Moscow doesn't negotiate peace, but said they would only work if Europe stops importing Russian energy. As EU leaders move to align with US pressure, Zelensky said Trump could even help sway China’s position on the war.
