Trump Says Ukraine Could “Win” Back All Its Land and Calls Russia a “Paper Tiger” at UN
In meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, President Trump said Ukraine is in a position to reclaim all of its occupied territory, said his relationship with Vladimir Putin had "meant nothing," and told NATO to shoot down Russian aircraft that enter allied airspace. President Zelensky said Trump is ready to give Ukraine security guarantees after the war.
President Donald Trump said Ukraine could win the war against Russia and reclaim all of its occupied territory, marking a sharp turn in his public stance during a day of meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a post on Truth Social and in comments to reporters after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said that after assessing the military and economic situation, he believes Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight for and win back all of Ukraine in its original form. He added that with time, patience, and financial support from Europe and NATO, restoring the original borders is very much an option, calling Russia “a paper tiger” that has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years.
Zelensky, speaking to the media after the meeting, said Trump’s change of tone marked a “big shift.” He called Trump “a gamechanger by himself” and said the American president is ready to give Ukraine security guarantees after the war is finished. “I think this is a very important moment,” Zelensky said.
A break with Putin
Trump has kept a line of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin unlike any other Western leader this year, including phone calls and an August summit in Alaska that ended without a ceasefire deal. Speaking during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump concluded that “unfortunately” the relationship had not meant anything, saying he had hoped it would help end the war.
Asked whether he still trusts Putin, Trump declined to answer directly, telling reporters: “I’ll let you know in about a month from now.” He also said NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft that enter allies’ airspace, though he stopped short of saying the United States would take part and said it would depend on the circumstances. Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland last Friday, days after about 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace.
Trump also said he plans to call Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to urge him to stop buying Russian oil, calling Orban a friend and saying he believes the Hungarian leader might stop if asked. Last week Trump called on Europe to break its dependence on Russian energy and said he is ready to impose sanctions on Moscow if European countries stop buying its oil and gas. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said she wants Europe to stop buying Russian oil by the end of the year and told Trump he is “absolutely right” on the issue.
Gaza and Palestinian statehood
Trump was sharply critical of France’s decision to formally recognize Palestinian statehood this week, a move also taken by the United Kingdom and other nations. “I think it honours Hamas and you can’t do that because of October 7,” Trump said while seated next to Macron. The French president stressed that the horrors of Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel had not been forgotten, but added that little had been achieved in defeating the group after almost two years of war.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, thanked Trump for hosting a meeting with Arab leaders on Gaza at the UN, saying “we count on you and your leadership as well to end this war and to help the people of Gaza.” First lady Melania Trump also announced a new global education initiative called Fostering the Future Together, described as a coalition of nations committed to the well-being of children through education, innovation, and technology.
Reporting based on coverage by The Times.
