Trump's Surprising Shift: Kyiv Can Reclaim Ukraine

Tue Sep 30 2025 03:58:00 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent statement, former US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about Ukraine's ability to regain its territory from Russia, indicating a potential shift in US support for Kyiv amid ongoing conflict.

US President Donald Trump has declared that Ukraine can 'win all of Ukraine back in its original form', following discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This marks a significant change from his previous stance, where he suggested that Ukraine may need to concede territory. Trump's comments came during a post on his Truth Social platform after addressing the UN General Assembly, and he attributed this optimism to the current economic troubles facing Russia. Zelensky welcomed this shift but emphasized the need for security guarantees from the US.

US President Donald Trump has said Kyiv can 'win all of Ukraine back in its original form', marking a major shift in his position on the war with Russia.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he stated Ukraine could reclaim its 'original borders from where this war started' with support from Europe and NATO, due to pressures on Russia's economy.

Trump's comments followed talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he addressed the UN General Assembly last Tuesday.

Previously, Trump expressed that ending the war might involve Ukraine conceding territory, a notion that Zelensky has consistently rejected.

In his latest post, Trump suggested Ukraine could 'maybe even go further than that', though he did not elaborate and omitted any mention of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, attributed Trump's tone change to his conversation with Zelensky, stating it was contrary to the actual situation on the ground.

Trump explained his shift in perspective came after understanding the military and economic state concerning Ukraine and Russia, calling Russia a 'paper tiger' due to its economic troubles.

Zelensky responded positively to Trump's statements, interpreting them as indicators of US support throughout the conflict, although he acknowledged the absence of specific details regarding what security guarantees would entail.

Later during an interview, Zelensky expressed surprise at Trump's post, viewing it as a 'positive signal' of continued US support.

Trump's evolving stance has been noted, especially with his previous insistence on the dire state of Ukraine's situation, which had fueled skepticism regarding enforcing responsibility on Russia.

During recent discussions at the UN, Trump also urged NATO nations to respond decisively to breaches by Russian aircraft. The allied countries have condemned Russia's actions, maintaining their readiness to utilize military and non-military tools to defend their territories.