NEW YORK (BN24) — President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that Ukraine could win back all the land it has lost to Russia, a sweeping reversal from his earlier calls for Kyiv to make concessions in pursuit of peace.
The announcement came in a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform shortly after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Trump said Ukraine, with support from the European Union and NATO, was in a strong position to retake its original borders and possibly more.
“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,” Trump wrote. He added that Russia, facing severe economic strain from the war, had become a “paper tiger” and that “this is the time for Ukraine to act.”
The remarks represented a dramatic rhetorical shift for Trump, who has previously suggested Ukraine should cede territory to end the war. Just over a month ago, he welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska, fueling speculation that Washington was pushing for a negotiated settlement.
Zelensky called Trump’s new tone a “big shift” and described their talks as “good, constructive.” He said they discussed Russia’s faltering economy and possible security guarantees for Ukraine once the war ends. The Ukrainian leader added that Trump had the power to be a “game-changer” in the conflict, though he did not reveal specific commitments.
Trump did signal continued military support, saying the United States would supply weapons to NATO allies “for NATO to do what they want with them,” a reference to mechanisms allowing European nations to purchase U.S. arms for Ukraine.
Russia, however, dismissed Trump’s remarks. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy urged observers not to “get so excited about every tweet,” casting doubt on whether the shift would translate into real changes in U.S. policy.
Trump’s pivot underscores the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s approach as the war enters its third year. While Zelensky presses for tougher sanctions on Moscow, Trump’s willingness to back Ukraine’s full territorial restoration could signal a harder line against Russia ahead of renewed U.S. engagement in the conflict.
