A decade after the annexation of Crimea, eight years after his first term, three and a half years after the invasion of Ukraine, and after seven months back in power, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated today, in his strongest message to date, that he finally understands the economic damage that the war and sanctions have caused to the Russian economy and that he believes, for the first time, that Ukraine can not only prevail but regain all lost territory and perhaps "even go further".
The message is undoubtedly the most powerful of this administration, coming shortly after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. But also after Russian provocations, with drones and fighter jets violating Polish and Baltic airspace, very close to where the US has deployed soldiers. After ignoring the issue for weeks, or downplaying it, today the president said he was in favor of NATO shooting down Russian aircraft entering its airspace. As warned on Monday by the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radek Sikorski, during the extraordinary session of the Security Council.
"After fully understanding the military and economic situation between Ukraine and Russia, and observing the economic problems it is causing Russia, I believe that Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and regain its original form. With time, patience, and financial support from Europe, and particularly from NATO, the original borders from where this war started are a viable option. Why not?" he wrote on his social media. "Russia has been fighting aimlessly in a war that a true military power should have won in less than a week for three and a half years. This makes them look like a paper tiger," he added.
Shortly before, in the plenary session, Trump had already spoken about this Russian incapacity, admitting that he himself thought ending the conflict would be very easy, but that "war is unpredictable," and that Putin thought he would take over the country in a week. Hours later, in a meeting with Emmanuel Macron, Trump admitted, in a very unusual gesture, that "the good relationship he had with Vladimir Putin has meant nothing." A diametrical change in paradigm, as he has always maintained that the Russian president respected and feared him, that the war would never have started if he had been in power in 2022, and that reaching an understanding would be simple.
"When the inhabitants of Moscow and all the major cities, towns, and districts of Russia discover the true nature of this war, the almost impossibility of getting gasoline through the long lines that form, and all the other problems affecting their war economy, where most of their money is spent on fighting Ukraine, which has a great spirit and is getting better and better, Ukraine will be able to regain its country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further! Putin and Russia are in serious economic trouble, and this is the moment for Ukraine to act. In any case, I wish the best to both countries. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for them to do as they please with them," he concluded.
This issue is decisive. "Yes, I do," Trump replied when asked if NATO members have to shoot down Russian ships in case of a violation of territory. But when asked if he would support NATO allies, he replied that "it depends" on the circumstances. The president acknowledged being aware of the possible drone incursion in Denmark, although he clarified that he does not have details on it and therefore cannot give an opinion.
The president was also questioned about the state of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and was asked if he still trusts the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to which he offered a new deadline: "I will let you know within a month."
NATO made it clear to Russia on Tuesday that it will defend itself against any threat amid the "escalation" in the incursion of fighter jets and drones in European skies.
Zelensky thanks Trump's turnaround
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, thanked his American counterpart, Donald Trump, on Tuesday during an interview for the unexpected shift in his stance regarding territorial distribution with Russia in the context of the conflict between the two countries.
"I believe that today he understands that we cannot simply exchange territories. It is not fair. It is not reality," Zelensky said during an interview with the American network Fox News.
The Ukrainian president concluded with a "God bless him" in his gratitude to Trump for the radical change that the American president made during the United Nations General Assembly (UN) by urging Ukraine to "fight" to regain the territories occupied by Russia, in an apparent break from the peace negotiations line he had promoted during August.
For his part, Zelensky said that his relationship with Trump has improved, they have constant calls, and added that perhaps Trump's shift is due to Putin "having lied to him repeatedly."
One of the specific requests that Zelensky made to Trump this afternoon is to urge India and China to reaffirm their position in support of Ukraine.
During the interview, Zelensky was asked about the state of his Army troops after 43 months of war, and he replied that they are in a "very difficult position." "We are surviving, but we cannot lose. We cannot lose. Otherwise, we will lose our independence," he added.
Finally, the leader of Kiev denied that there is no willingness to hold elections in his country, as he has been criticized, but reaffirmed that this process cannot take place until "there is a ceasefire."