Donald Trump, United States president has dramatically toughened his position on the war in Ukraine, declaring that Kyiv could regain all of its territory and urging NATO allies to shoot down Russian aircraft if they breach their airspace.
The US president’s comments, made on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, mark a significant departure from his earlier stance, when he suggested Ukraine might have to cede land to secure peace with Moscow.
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Speaking alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump was asked whether NATO should take stronger action against Russian jets that stray into allied skies. “Yes, I do,” he replied. “They should be shot down.”
The remarks came after a string of airspace violations reported by NATO states including Estonia, Poland and Romania, which have accused Russia of testing alliance resolve with drone and fighter jet incursions. Moscow has denied or downplayed the incidents.
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Hours later, in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, Trump went further—arguing that Ukraine, with NATO and European support, could win the war outright and restore the borders it held before Russia’s invasion in 2014.
“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,” he wrote. “Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that! Putin and Russia are in BIG economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act.”
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The post is the clearest sign yet that Trump believes Russia’s battlefield and economic position has weakened to the point where Kyiv could retake occupied territory, including Crimea. He described Moscow as a “paper tiger” buckling under the strain of sanctions and war spending.
Zelensky welcomed the shift, calling it “a big step.” Speaking at a press conference later, he said Trump “knows more details … than before” after their private talks. Asked whether the president’s new position was a “gamechanger,” the Ukrainian leader replied: “Trump is a gamechanger by himself.”
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But not all in Washington shared the enthusiasm. Marco Rubio, US secretary of state distanced himself from Trump’s rhetoric, cautioning that the conflict was unlikely to end through military victory.
“This war cannot end militarily. It will end at a negotiating table,” Rubio told the UN Security Council, stressing that America remained committed to a peaceful resolution even while acknowledging that one may prove elusive. On NATO’s role, Rubio said allies would continue to intercept Russian aircraft but were unlikely to fire unless attacked directly.
The split highlights the competing voices within the US administration at a critical moment in the war. Trump’s blunt support for Ukraine’s maximalist goals contrasts with Rubio’s insistence on diplomacy, underscoring uncertainty about Washington’s ultimate strategy.
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Meanwhile, Trump used his UN speech to criticise European allies still reliant on Russian energy, accusing them of “funding a war against themselves.” The comments drew nods from Ukraine’s delegation, which has long urged Western capitals to cut Moscow’s revenue lifelines.
