Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, September 23, 2025.—Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine could reclaim all the territory occupied by Russia and urged Kyiv to act quickly, citing Moscow’s severe economic problems. The statement marked a sharp shift in Trump’s rhetoric in favor of Ukraine.
However, there is no indication that Trump’s words will lead to immediate changes in US policy, such as imposing the new sanctions on Russia that Zelenskiy has requested during his visit to New York.
“Putin and Russia are in BIG economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after meeting Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“Given the economic damage the war is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with support from the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” he added.
Reclaiming all of Ukraine would require Kyiv to remove Russian forces from around 20% of its territory, including Crimea, which Russia has controlled since 2014—a move that would be a historic reversal.
Previously, Trump suggested Ukraine might consider ceding territory to achieve peace, raising Ukrainian fears about potential behind-the-scenes deals that could legitimize Russian occupation.
Europe’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, welcomed Trump’s comments, saying, “These are very strong statements we haven’t heard before. It is positive that we now share the same understanding.”
Good, Constructive Meeting
Trump’s new tone contrasts sharply with his warm reception of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska last month, part of efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy described his meeting with Trump as “good, constructive” but did not provide details. He praised Trump’s Truth Social message as “a big shift.”
In an interview with Fox News, Zelenskiy said the US and Ukrainian positions were “closer than ever before” and suggested Trump’s stance had shifted.
Trump criticized Russia, saying it fought “aimlessly” in a war that a real military power could have won in under a week, calling Russia a “paper tiger.”
Despite the rhetoric, Trump’s only concrete commitment on Truth Social was to “continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them,” hinting at a mechanism for European countries to buy US weapons for Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the UN Security Council, emphasized the US hopes for a peaceful solution.
“This war needs to end. But if it does not, the United States and President Donald J. Trump will take steps to impose costs for continued aggression,” Rubio said.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged the US to increase sanctions on Russia to pressure it into peace talks, a message he reinforced at the UN.
At the General Assembly, Trump said he was ready to impose strong economic measures if Russia continued the war, but stressed that allies must act as well. He also criticized some European countries for buying Russian oil.
Zelenskiy said he and Trump discussed Russia’s struggling economy and reached “an understanding” that Trump could provide security guarantees to Ukraine after the war.
He added that Trump could be a “game-changer” for Ukraine and noted China’s influence over Russia, though he saw no signs Beijing seeks an end to the war.
Speaking to reporters, Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy downplayed Trump’s statement, saying, “Don’t get so excited about every tweet.”
Former Democratic US Representative Tom Malinowski called Trump’s shift “an amazing 180-degree turn, which might not last long.”
Malinowski added on X, “But Putin will only ask: What more will Trump actually do to help Ukraine win? If nothing, then it’s just words.”
