UKRAINE - US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Kyiv can “win all of Ukraine back in its original form,” marking a notable shift from his earlier stance on the war with Russia.
He claimed Ukraine could regain the borders where the war started with help from Europe and NATO, due to pressures on Russia’s economy. He cautioned that Ukraine might be able to go further than that, though he did not specify details, and he did not reference Crimea.
The remarks followed discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Trump’s UN General Assembly address. Trump has repeatedly said he aims to end the war, but previously suggested Ukraine might have to concede some territory—a position Zelensky has rejected. Zelensky, speaking at the UN, described the shift as significant and said the US could provide security guarantees after the war, though he admitted there were no concrete details yet. He also mentioned the possibility of additional weapons, air defenses, and drones.
Russia’s response came through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who attributed Trump’s change to his conversation with Zelensky and claimed Trump’s new view diverges from Russia’s current situation. Peskov dismissed the idea that Ukraine could “fight something back” as erroneous and noted tensions in some sectors due to global sanctions. Russia denied being in economic trouble, while acknowledging areas of concern.
Zelensky described Trump’s stance as a “positive signal” and said the US and Trump would be with Ukraine to the end of the war. He also noted that Putin had misled Trump in the past, which influenced the shift. Separately, Trump called on NATO members to shoot down Russian planes violating airspace, referencing recent incursions.
NATO and EU responses highlighted concern over Russian actions. NATO condemned Russia’s airspace violations and pledged to use all necessary tools to defend member states, accusing Russia of a pattern of escalatory behavior. Poland and Estonia had earlier pressed for consultations within NATO following airspace breaches, with Romania reporting drone incidents.
The UN and European leaders emphasized reducing European dependence on Russian energy. EU President Ursula von der Leyen asserted Europe would be “turning the page on Russian fossil fuels for good” by 2027.
Overall, this marks a notable rhetorical shift by Trump on Ukraine, suggesting potential support for regaining original Ukrainian borders and broader arms and defense commitments, while Russia and some Western allies respond with cautious skepticism and insist on accountability and defense measures within NATO. (BBC)
