Kyiv can win all of Ukraine back, Trump says

Former President Donald Trump on Truth Social asserted that Kyiv can win back all of Ukraine in its original form, marking a notable shift in his stance on the war with Russia. He said Ukraine could reclaim the original borders from where the war started with support from Europe and NATO, citing pressure on Russia's economy. He spoke after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following Trump's address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

In the post, Trump said Ukraine could get back the original borders from where this war started and perhaps go further, but did not specify what that might entail. He did not reference Crimea. He said his position had changed after getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation, and he asserted that Putin and Russia were in big economic trouble, arguing this was the time for Ukraine to act.

Trump's comments come after his UN General Assembly address and a meeting with Zelensky that followed. They reflect a broader shift from earlier statements in which he suggested ending the war could require Ukraine to concede territory, a stance Zelensky has rejected. Earlier this year, during discussions with Zelensky in the Oval Office, Trump said he did not have the cards to prevail in a war of attrition, according to the notes.

There were reports that Trump had pressed Zelensky to surrender the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for Russia freezing the rest of the front line — a proposal that Putin floated during the Alaska talks. Trump has repeatedly signaled toughness toward Moscow but has not moved on sanctions when the Kremlin ignored deadlines.

Trump also urged NATO to shoot down Russian aircraft that breach airspace, a stance tied to recent incursions by Russian jets and drones. Estonia and Poland reported airspace incidents and Romania said drones breached its airspace; Russia denied the Estonia violation and said the Polish case was not deliberate, with no immediate comment on Romania. Asked whether the United States would back allies that shoot down Russian planes, Trump said it depends on the circumstance and praised NATO for increasing defense spending, including a target of 5% of GDP by 2035.

The remarks reflect the volatility of Trump's foreign policy approach and come as the war in Ukraine persists and as a U.S.-led coalition continues to provide support to Kyiv. Notably, the post concluded with an assurance that the United States would continue to sell arms to NATO that could be passed along to Ukraine, a commitment that has been a defining feature of Washington's support for Kyiv.

The comments add to an ongoing domestic debate about how to respond to the war and what terms of settlement, if any, should be considered. They arrive as U.S. politics tests how much room is left for unconventional foreign-policy moves within the 2024 election cycle.