Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a striking shift in tone, U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that Ukraine has the potential to defeat Russia and reclaim all of its lost territory and possibly more, calling the Russian military a “paper tiger” and asserting that economic pressure could tip the war in Kyiv’s favor.
The comments were made in a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform shortly after his high-profile meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation, and after seeing the economic trouble 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 maybe even go further than that,” Trump wrote.
From Concessions to Confidence
Trump’s post marked a notable departure from his previous stance. Earlier this year, he had suggested Ukraine would have to make territorial concessions to end the war, which has dragged on since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Now, he appears to believe that with European and NATO backing, Ukraine could fully restore its pre-war borders and potentially even expand beyond them.
“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. Why not?” Trump asked rhetorically in the post.
Trump also painted a grim picture of Russia’s war efforts: “Putin and Russia are in BIG economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” he said, referring to the prolonged conflict as a drain on Russian resources. “They have been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a war that should have taken a real military power less than a week to win.”
U.S. Strategy: Arms Through NATO, Economic Pressure on Russia
While stopping short of announcing direct increases in U.S. military support, Trump reaffirmed that Washington would continue supplying weapons to NATO, which member countries could then distribute to Ukraine. “We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all!” he wrote.
The president also doubled down on economic measures, urging European countries once again to halt purchases of Russian oil and gas, a move he says would further choke off Moscow’s ability to sustain its war machine.
Zelensky-Trump Meeting: Cautious Optimism
The Trump-Zelensky meeting, their second in just over a month was described by both sides as “productive,” though no concrete announcements emerged. According to aides, the two leaders discussed long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, including the prospect of NATO membership, reconstruction aid, and tighter sanctions on Russia.
However, skepticism remains over Trump’s ability to navigate both sides of the conflict. Just weeks earlier, Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, though the meeting yielded no apparent breakthrough. When asked by reporters on Tuesday whether he still trusts Putin, Trump responded cryptically: “I’ll let you know in about a month.”
Context: Ukraine’s Slow Progress, Russia’s Stalled Campaign
Trump’s comments come as the war grinds into its fourth year with no clear end in sight. Ukrainian forces have regained some territory but have fallen short of large-scale breakthroughs, particularly in the eastern Donbas region. Meanwhile, Russia’s military once feared as among the world’s most powerful, has been stretched thin, struggling with supply lines, morale, and Western-imposed sanctions.
Despite mounting losses, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no sign of pulling back. The Kremlin continues to assert that it will “achieve its objectives” in Ukraine, even as internal dissent and economic stagnation grow.
Trump’s remarks describing Russia’s military as “a paper tiger” echo growing assessments in Western intelligence circles that Moscow has significantly overextended itself.
What’s Next?
While Trump’s rhetoric may galvanize some in Kyiv, questions remain about how much material support the U.S. is willing to provide especially ahead of the 2026 U.S. elections. Within NATO, some leaders worry that Trump’s erratic diplomacy could destabilize alliances, even as he talks tough on Russia.
Still, Zelensky welcomed the shift, with Ukrainian officials reportedly encouraged by the president’s new tone. One adviser described the meeting as “a turning point,” signaling a potential hardening of U.S. support under Trump’s watch.
Whether that translates into meaningful action remains to be seen.
