Trump Reverses Stance, Says Ukraine Can Win Back All Territory From Russia
In a striking reversal of his earlier position, U.S. President Donald Trump has said Ukraine has a realistic chance of reclaiming all of its territory lost to Russia since the war began.
Speaking on Tuesday through a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that restoring Ukraine’s “original borders from where this war started” was now a viable option.
He argued that Russia’s economy was “in crisis” and described Moscow’s war effort as “aimless,” calling Russia a “paper tiger.”
“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, Ukraine’s victory and recovery of its borders is very much an option,” the president wrote.
The new tone marks a significant departure from Trump’s earlier stance, in which he suggested Ukraine and Russia might need to make land concessions in order to achieve peace. By contrast, his latest remarks align more closely with NATO’s view that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be restored.
Trump did not announce new measures to boost U.S. military involvement, but emphasized continued arms supplies through NATO and pressed European allies to shoulder greater responsibility for Ukraine’s defense. He also hinted at tougher tariffs if Russia refused to enter peace negotiations.
The shift has been met with cautious optimism in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials welcomed the stronger rhetoric but stressed that victory depends not only on words, but on sustained weapons deliveries, funding, and international support.
Russia, meanwhile, dismissed the statement, with Kremlin officials insisting that Moscow would continue pursuing its military objectives regardless of Western pressure.
Analysts see Trump’s pivot as a strategic recalibration, aimed at strengthening NATO unity and putting pressure on President Vladimir Putin. Still, experts warn that fully restoring Ukraine’s pre-war borders would be a monumental challenge, given Russia’s entrenched positions and the heavy toll of the ongoing conflict.
Trump’s statement has now set the stage for renewed debate over U.S. and NATO policy toward Ukraine, raising questions about whether this rhetorical shift will translate into a more robust support package or remain largely symbolic.
