President Donald Trump offered a surprisingly upbeat assessment of Ukraine’s chances against Russia after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations on Sept. 23.
Despite previously suggesting that territorial concessions would be inevitable, Trump declared that Ukraine could “fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” calling Russia a “paper tiger” weakened after three and a half years of war.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for NATO weapons flowing into Ukraine, calling the battlefield situation “good news,” while Trump, who once berated the Ukrainian leader, praised him as “a great man” putting up “one hell of a fight.”
Reversal From Earlier Stance on Concessions
Trump’s comments marked a clear departure from his position just weeks earlier, when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. At that time, he floated the idea of Ukraine engaging in “swapping of territories” to end the war.
That summit ended without progress, and Putin has since escalated attacks on Kyiv, frustrating Trump’s efforts at personal diplomacy.
Threat of Tariffs Against Russia
Before the Zelenskyy meeting, Trump addressed the UN General Assembly, threatening tariffs if Russia refuses to negotiate peace. He urged Europe to join the U.S. in imposing stiff economic measures, warning, “for those tariffs to be effective, European nations… would have to join us.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the call, announcing plans to sanction Russian oil and gas ports and accelerate the EU’s goal of ending reliance on Moscow by 2027.
Support for NATO Nations Facing Airspace Incursions
Trump also endorsed NATO countries shooting down Russian aircraft that violate their airspace. “Yes I do,” he said when asked directly, though he added that U.S. involvement would “depend on the circumstance.”
His remarks followed reports of Russian drones and fighter jets entering the airspace of Poland, Romania, and Estonia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed to shoot down intruding aircraft, and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski signaled support for Trump’s harder line, posting “Roger that” on X after Trump’s statement.
Rising Tensions With Russia
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sept. 22 at Estonia’s request, where officials warned Moscow against risking direct confrontation with NATO.
Britain’s foreign secretary said plainly: “if we need to confront planes that are operating in NATO airspace without permission, then we will do so.”
Poland, which borders Ukraine, has urged Trump to abandon his reliance on diplomacy with Putin and instead increase pressure through military and economic means.
With NATO already stretched by repeated Russian provocations, Trump’s new position signals a stronger commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and alliance solidarity, though with lingering ambiguity about the extent of U.S. involvement under Article 5.
