New York: United States President Donald Trump has declared that Ukraine has the potential to recover all territory lost since Russia’s 2022 invasion, in what is being seen as his strongest statement of support for Kyiv to date.
The president made the remarks on Truth Social after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, asserting that Moscow’s economy was facing severe strain. Trump stated that, “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,” adding that the war had exposed Russia as a ‘paper tiger.’
Trump also pledged to supply weapons to NATO for allied use, while pressing European nations to halt purchases of Russian oil and gas. Trump told the UN General Assembly, insisting that NATO members must ‘immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia.’
Zelenskyy welcomed Trump’s remarks, calling them a ‘big shift’ and expressing hope that the US president could influence China’s stance on the war. Trump further warned NATO aircraft should be prepared to intercept Russian jets entering alliance airspace, though he later clarified that such action would depend on the circumstances. His stance contrasted with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said NATO should respond only if Russian aircraft launched attacks.
The US president also hinted at imposing fresh tariffs against nations still trading with Moscow, including China and India, though he acknowledged ongoing negotiations with New Delhi. Hungary and Slovakia, however, continue to rely heavily on Russian energy supplies.
Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó argued his country could not ensure safe energy delivery without Russian imports, citing infrastructure limitations. Slovakia said it was open to diversification, provided alternative supply routes were available.
Meanwhile, the European Union is moving to accelerate its plan to end Russian liquefied natural gas imports by 2026 and has unveiled its 19th sanctions package, targeting dozens of firms accused of helping Moscow evade restrictions. Trump described Zelenskyy as a brave man and stressed that the current situation presented Kyiv with a historic opportunity.
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