President Donald Trump of the United States on Tuesday declared that Ukraine could win back all its territory from Russia, marking a dramatic departure from his earlier calls for Kyiv to concede land to end the war.
Trump said this in a post on social media shortly after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“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.
“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option,” he added.
The comments, if sustained, are a major boost for Zelenskyy, who has urged Washington to maintain pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Only weeks ago, Trump had argued Ukraine would never be able to reclaim all land seized by Moscow since its 2014 annexation of Crimea, a stance that unsettled European leaders and Kyiv alike.
After their meeting, Zelenskyy hailed Trump’s turnaround, “Trump is a game changer by himself.”
Trump makes U-turn, says Ukraine can reclaim all land lost to Russia
