In a stunning and dramatic reversal of his long-held skepticism, President Donald Trump has declared that Ukraine can “absolutely” win back all of its territory from Russia, a powerful new message delivered after his first face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The declaration marks a significant pivot from Trump’s past policy of a negotiated settlement, which often suggested Ukraine might have to cede territory to end the war. In a statement on his social media platform following the meeting, Trump wrote: “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.” He dismissed Russia’s military as a “paper tiger” and said the Russian economy was in “BIG Economic trouble,” concluding that “this is the time for Ukraine to act.”
For Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, the shift was a major diplomatic victory. Their past encounters, including a highly contentious meeting in the Oval Office earlier this year, have been marked by tension. But on Tuesday, the two leaders exchanged warm greetings, and Zelenskyy later told reporters that Trump’s new stance could be a “game-changer” for Ukraine. He thanked the U.S. President for his “personal efforts to stop this war,” and echoed Trump’s call for European nations to stop buying Russian oil.
While the new rhetoric offers a glimmer of hope for Kyiv, it remains to be seen if it will be followed by a concrete and sustained change in policy. Trump’s statement did not include a commitment to new U.S. direct financial or military aid, instead suggesting that future weapons supplies would be provided to NATO, who would then be responsible for getting them to Ukraine.
The declaration also comes amid a complex and evolving political landscape. Trump, who has frequently boasted of his ability to negotiate an end to the conflict, has seen his peace efforts stall in recent months. Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to meet with Zelenskyy, and the war has only intensified. The President’s new message puts the ball squarely in Europe’s court and signals that he believes the time for negotiations has passed, and the time for action has arrived.