U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a powerful statement, asserting that Ukraine is in a position to “fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.” The declaration, a significant shift from his previous position on the conflict, came in a lengthy social media post following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. President Trump’s remarks underscore a renewed focus on the economic and military situation of both countries, suggesting that the tide of the conflict is turning in Ukraine’s favor.
In his statement, President Trump presented a detailed analysis of the three-and-a-half-year conflict, arguing that Russia’s protracted and “aimless” fight has revealed its military as a “paper tiger.” He pointed to the economic difficulties facing Russia, noting that a “Real Military Power” should have been able to win the war in “less than a week.” This critique is part of a broader argument that the conflict is not only a military failure for Moscow but is also causing significant economic hardship for the Russian people, which he believes will further weaken their war effort. He specifically mentioned the difficulty for ordinary Russians to get gasoline and the widespread spending of money on the war, which is draining the country’s resources.
President Trump’s newfound optimism for a Ukrainian victory is contingent on continued and robust support from the European Union and NATO. He stated that with “time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO,” Ukraine can reclaim its original borders. He even suggested that “maybe even go further than that,” which is a notable departure from his previous comments that often hinted at Ukraine having to make territorial concessions to end the war. This new position aligns him more closely with Kyiv’s stated war aims, a major change that has been met with positive reactions from Ukrainian officials.
The statement also reiterated President Trump’s criticism of NATO countries, China, and India for their continued purchases of Russian oil and energy products. He argued that these nations are “funding the war against themselves” and called on Europe to “immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia.” This is a key element of his strategy to use economic pressure to force an end to the conflict. He has previously stated that if European nations agree to halt these purchases, the U.S. is prepared to impose its own “very strong round of powerful tariffs” on Russia.
The implications of this statement are far-reaching. It signals a potential change in the U.S. administration’s approach to the conflict, moving from a position of seeking a negotiated settlement, even at the cost of territorial integrity, to a full-throated endorsement of Ukraine’s ability to achieve a complete military victory. The president’s comments on the economic strain within Russia provide a new rationale for this shift, suggesting that the Kremlin is more vulnerable than previously thought. The final line of the statement, “We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them,” indicates that the U.S. will continue to be a source of military aid to the alliance, which can then be transferred to Ukraine.
