Trump Shifts Ukraine Stance: Says Nation Can Reclaim All Territory

Major Policy Reversal at UN Meeting

In a significant policy shift, President Donald Trump has declared that Ukraine can reclaim all territories currently occupied by Russia. The announcement came following a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is capable of fighting and winning for all of Ukraine in its original form. With time, patience and financial support from Europe, and particularly from NATO, the original borders where this war began are certainly an option," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

From Skepticism to Support

This represents a dramatic reversal from Trump's previous position, where he had suggested Ukraine would need to make significant concessions, potentially including surrendering Russian-occupied regions, to achieve peace. The meeting marked a notable improvement in relations between the two leaders, who had previously clashed during Zelensky's Oval Office visit.

Christian Paauwe, correspondent for Central and Eastern Europe, noted: "Earlier, Trump scolded Zelensky at the White House because Ukraine supposedly didn't have the 'cards' in the fight and concessions were needed for peace. Now Trump says Ukraine can reclaim all territory. Meanwhile, most Ukrainians themselves don't even believe this is possible in the short term - they simply don't have the manpower and equipment."

Military and Economic Factors

Trump pointed to Russia's struggling economy as a key factor that could hasten the war's end. "The poor state of the Russian economy is the biggest boost for a possible end to the war," the American president stated. Zelensky expressed support for Trump's call for the EU to completely halt imports of Russian oil and gas.

Prior to meeting Zelensky, Trump had discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who confirmed the EU's commitment to accelerating the phase-out of Russian energy imports and imposing additional sanctions. Trump emphasized that "a very strong round of heavy sanctions" could quickly end the bloodshed.

NATO Airspace Protection

In response to journalist questions, Trump also stated that NATO countries should feel free to shoot down Russian aircraft entering NATO airspace. This statement came after Estonia reported three Russian fighter jets had violated its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday.

The policy shift represents a significant victory for Zelensky's diplomatic efforts, which have focused on securing continued American support despite Trump's previous skepticism about Ukraine's military prospects. Source: NOS News