In a notable shift in his stance on the conflict in Ukraine, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Ukraine, backed by the European Union and NATO, has the potential to reclaim all territories seized by Russia since the invasion began over three years ago.
Posting on his Truth Social platform following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Trump stated, “With patience, time, and financial backing from Europe and especially NATO, restoring Ukraine’s original borders from before this war started is entirely achievable.”
The two leaders convened on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Previously, Trump had suggested that a resolution might require territorial concessions from both Kyiv and Moscow, a proposal that Zelenskyy and his European partners have firmly rejected.
In his message, Trump criticized Russia’s military efforts, describing them as “directionless” and asserting that a truly formidable military force would have concluded the conflict in “under a week.”
He further downplayed Russia’s strength, labeling it a “paper tiger” and highlighting the severe economic difficulties facing President Vladimir Putin’s regime, emphasizing that “now is the moment for Ukraine to take decisive action.”
Since the invasion in February 2022, Russia has occupied nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 remains outside the scope of the current conflict, according to Russian claims.
Trump’s previous interactions with Zelenskyy were marked by tension, including a public disagreement in the Oval Office earlier this year, where Trump told Zelenskyy, “you don’t hold the cards” to secure a favorable outcome with Russia.
However, during their recent meeting, Trump expressed admiration for Ukraine’s resilience, stating, “I have great respect for the remarkable resistance Ukraine is demonstrating.”
Trump as a Potential Influencer in the Conflict
President Zelenskyy acknowledged Trump’s “personal commitment to ending this war” and indicated that there was a mutual understanding regarding Trump’s willingness to offer security guarantees to Ukraine post-conflict. Zelenskyy described Trump as a possible “game-changer” for Ukraine’s future.
“We all recognize that President Trump is prepared to provide Ukraine with security assurances once the war concludes,” Zelenskyy told the press.
Trump, who has been critical of President Joe Biden’s approach to Ukraine, has actively sought to halt the conflict since returning to office in January. During his campaign, he pledged to end the war within his first day in office. Initially, he placed blame on Ukraine for the hostilities, but after an unproductive summit with Putin in Alaska last August, he expressed disappointment, stating that Putin had failed to meet his expectations.
Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, noted that Trump’s recent statements mark a significant departure from previous U.S. policy. Zelenskyy has consistently demanded the restoration of all Ukrainian territory, a position Trump had earlier dismissed as unrealistic.
“This represents a complete reversal in the U.S. stance. Previously, during the Alaska summit, Trump and Putin discussed a peace agreement. Now, the conversation has shifted toward a military solution where Ukraine could potentially reclaim all its lands and emerge victorious,” Bays explained.
European diplomats and foreign ministers at the UN were reportedly caught off guard by Trump’s announcement but have welcomed the change in U.S. policy.
Beyond Ukraine, Trump also voiced support for a strong NATO response to any future violations. When asked if NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft entering their airspace, he responded affirmatively, “Yes, I do.”
However, when questioned about whether he still considers Putin a trustworthy negotiating partner amid ongoing Russian attacks, Trump was noncommittal, replying, “I’ll let you know in about a month.”
The 79-year-old Republican has a history of setting short deadlines-often two weeks-to decide on new measures against Russia, including sanctions.
Recent tensions between Russia and European nations have intensified due to multiple airspace breaches. NATO jets were scrambled after three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes last Friday, prompting Estonia to request a UN Security Council meeting and consultations with NATO allies.
Poland, another NATO member, reported repeated incursions by Russian drones during attacks on Ukraine earlier this month, condemning these as “acts of aggression.”
On Tuesday, NATO issued a stern warning to Russia, pledging to employ “all necessary military and nonmilitary means” to defend its members, condemning Moscow’s repeated violations of Estonian airspace as part of a “pattern of increasingly reckless behavior.”
