Trump Affirms Ukraine Can Reclaim Land from Russia

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:32:57 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a substantial shift, former President Donald Trump claims Ukraine can restore its original territories amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, urging international support to capitalize on Russia's economic troubles.

Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine has the capability to regain all of its territory lost to Russia, declaring a significant change in his stance on the conflict. In his remarks following a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, he indicated that European and NATO support could enable Ukraine to restore its original borders as the Russian economy struggles. His recent comments, including a stark divergence from his earlier views suggesting territorial concessions, have raised questions about the U.S. role in the conflict moving forward.

US President Donald Trump has said Kyiv can win all of Ukraine back in its original form, marking a major shift in his position on the war with Russia.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said Ukraine could get back the original borders from where this war started with the support of Europe and NATO, due to pressures on Russia's economy.

His comments came after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, held after Trump had addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to end the war, but has previously warned that process would likely involve Ukraine giving up some territory, an outcome Zelensky has repeatedly rejected.

In his post, Trump added Ukraine could maybe even go further than that, but did not specify what he was referring to.

He also made no reference to Crimea, which was invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Trump said his position had changed after getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation.

Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, following his speech to the UN, Trump also said NATO nations should shoot down Russian planes breaching their airspace, following a series of recent incursions by Russian fighter jets and drones.

Last week Estonia and Poland requested a consultation with other NATO members after Russia violated its airspace in separate incidents. Romania, another NATO member, also said Russian drones breached its airspace.

Russia denied violating Estonia's airspace, while it insisted the Polish incursion was not deliberate and did not comment on the Romania incident.

Asked if the US would support its NATO allies if they shot down Russian aircraft, Trump said it depends on the circumstance and praised the military alliance for increasing defence spending.

NATO has stepped up, he said, referring to an agreement by leaders to ramp up defence spending to 5% of their countries' economic output by 2035.

Trump's Truth Social post represents an about-face after he spent most of the year insisting that Ukraine's situation was dire. His recent remarks come in stark contrast to previous statements where he hinted at territorial concessions. This evolution has sparked considerable intrigue regarding U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict.