Trump says Kyiv can ‘fight and win all of Ukraine back’ in major policy change

US President Donald Trump said that Kyiv, with the support of the European Union, 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 said Ukraine could regain “the original borders from where this war started,” with the support of Europe and NATO, due to the pressures on Russia’s economy.

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Trump emphasized that now is the right time for Ukraine to act, as Russia faces significant economic challenges. He argued that Russia has been fighting “aimlessly” for three and a half years, calling Moscow “a paper tiger.”

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to end the war, but has previously suggested Ukraine might need to give up some territory, an outcome that President Zelensky has consistently rejected.

“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation, and after seeing the economic troubles it is causing Russia, 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. With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original borders from where this war started are very much an option,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump’s statement on the Russia-Ukraine war came after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Earlier, the US president targeted Russian leader Vladimir Putin for his “bad leadership” and issued a fresh threat of “powerful tariffs” on Moscow.

Calling Russia “a paper tiger” that is unable to keep its economy intact, he said, “Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years in a war that should have been won by a real military power in less than a week. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is making them look like a ‘paper tiger.’ When the people in Moscow, and throughout all the great cities, towns, and districts in Russia, find out what is really going on with this war—the fact that it’s almost impossible for them to get gasoline through the long lines that are forming, and all the other issues plaguing their war economy—most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine, which has great spirit and is only getting stronger. Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form, and who knows, maybe even go further than that!”

He then said that Putin and Russia are in “BIG economic trouble” and called on Ukraine “to act.” “In any event, I wish both countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them.”

It appears that Trump has shifted his policy, now emphasizing the economic dynamics of the situation. NATO’s ongoing purchase of weapons from the US and their subsequent provision to Ukraine aligns with his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) agenda, which calls for greater contributions to NATO defense.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, it has seized control of nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Moscow had previously annexed Crimea in 2014, a region it treats as outside the scope of the current conflict.