News
President Donald Trump stated ahead of the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine could regain all the territory it has lost to Russia. After meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump declared: “With NATO support, Ukraine can restore its territory in its entirety.” This marked a shift from his previously more cautious stance.
Source: AP News｜Ukraine can win back all territory lost to Russia with NATO’s help, Trump says
Supplementary Explanation
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. More than three years later, the conflict remains deadlocked, with Russia still occupying large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukraine has relied heavily on Western support, particularly from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), which provides weapons, training, and intelligence. Without NATO’s backing, Ukraine would struggle to maintain its defense.
The ultimate goal for Kyiv is territorial recapture, meaning to regain all occupied regions, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Trump’s latest remarks are notable because they explicitly endorse this maximal objective.
Overseas Reactions
Trump on Truth Social: “After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation … Ukraine, with the support of the EU and NATO, is in a position to fight and WIN back all of Ukraine … Russia looks like a ‘paper tiger.’ … Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form … Good luck to all!”
After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation
Mercy. When did this happen? lol
Must’ve gotten exposed to real info at the UN meeting. Don’t worry though. He’ll forget once he turns Fox News back on.
Maybe I’m an optimist, but this does sound like quite a step change … It might be triggered by three things: the UK state visit, the China–Russia–North Korea meeting, and Trump’s naive belief in solving issues by befriending dictators.
I think there is a fourth option … Trump genuinely believed he had a personal relationship with Putin and could end the war quickly. But Putin escalated, and Trump realized he had been played. This may be a permanent shift toward a more defense-heavy stance.
I appreciate the optimism, but he gets zero leeway until he puts action to his thoughts. It’s been 5 years and he nearly always falls under the bar.
He has the memory of a goldfish. Today it’s “Ukraine can win.” Tomorrow he’ll blame Ukraine for the war again.
Watch what he does, not what he says. All it takes is one phone call from Putin and his mind will flip back.
Notice how he emphasizes EU financial support, not the U.S. He’s happy to sell weapons through NATO, but he doesn’t want America footing the bill.
American weapons manufacturers must be thrilled. “Keep Ukraine fighting, it’s good for business.” That’s the subtext here.
Macron once gave him royal treatment in 2017, and Trump turned against him later. The UK banquet may buy a few tweets, but don’t expect consistency.
At least it shows he’s pissed at Putin for making him look weak. That’s new.
Summary of Comments
Reactions online were sharply divided. Some welcomed the statement as a sign of genuine change, possibly driven by recent diplomatic events, while others saw it as shallow rhetoric that could reverse with a single phone call from Putin. Skepticism over Trump’s consistency was a recurring theme, along with concerns that he is shifting financial and military responsibility onto Europe while American defense contractors quietly benefit.
Analysis｜The Significance of Trump’s “Territorial Recapture” Remark
1. A Shift in Rhetoric
Trump’s words differ sharply from his earlier suggestions of compromise. The change reflects recent diplomatic encounters and Russia’s growing economic weakness.
2. NATO and Europe’s Burden
By stressing NATO’s role, Trump signaled burden-sharing. While Eastern European states like Poland push for stronger support, Germany and France face “aid fatigue.” NATO unity remains fragile.
3. Dual Message to Ukraine and Russia
For Ukraine, Trump’s stance boosts morale. For Russia, calling its military a “paper tiger” undermines its credibility and fuels domestic discontent.
4. Election Strategy and Bargaining Chip
The rhetoric strengthens Trump’s “strong leader” image while reassuring isolationist voters that U.S. burdens will be limited. The statement could also serve as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.
5. NATO-Wide Security Risks
Recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, and repeated threats to Baltic states, underline that the war now directly threatens NATO members. This elevates the conflict from a Ukraine issue to a test of NATO’s collective defense.
Conclusion｜Prospects and Challenges
Trump’s words are politically powerful but militarily uncertain. Full recapture of Ukrainian territory is a daunting task. Yet Russia’s weakening economy and NATO’s renewed attention make it more plausible than before.
The real question is whether Europe can sustain long-term support and whether the U.S. will back its words with actions. The coming months will determine whether Trump’s statement marks a true policy shift or merely rhetorical posturing.
References
- AP News｜Ukraine can win back all territory lost to Russia with NATO’s help, Trump says
- The Guardian｜Cheap Shahed-like ‘Gerbera’ drones used in Poland violation
- AP News｜Belarus involved in drone incursions into Polish airspace
- Atlantic Council｜Poland shot down Russian drones over its territory – implications for NATO
- NATO｜Collective defence – Article 5
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