New York,September 24(HS): In a striking shift of tone, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine has the potential to reclaim all of its occupied territory from Russia — and possibly even more — with the backing of NATO and the European Union.Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that Moscow was in deep economic distress and that Ukraine’s moment of opportunity had arrived.
“Putin and Russia are in BIG economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump wrote, dismissing Russia as a “paper tiger.”
Trump’s remarks come just weeks after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where he struck a markedly softer line. The apparent U-turn highlights a growing divide as Russia’s war enters its fourth year.The U.S. president also urged NATO members to stand firm, saying they would be justified in shooting down Russian fighter jets if they violated allied airspace. His comment followed recent breaches by Russian MiG-31 fighters over Estonia and drone incursions into Poland, heightening tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.
At their meeting, Zelensky praised Trump’s “personal efforts to stop the war” and echoed calls to curtail Western purchases of Russian oil. Trump, in turn, lauded Ukrainians’ resilience, saying, “It’s pretty amazing actually.”
While pressing allies to provide financial and military backing, Trump suggested Ukraine could restore its pre-war borders and even expand further, writing: “With time, patience, and the support of Europe and NATO, the original Borders from where this War started is very much an option. Why not?”However, European leaders responded cautiously. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned against falling into an “escalation trap” over NATO airspace confrontations, stressing that “level-headedness is responsibility towards Europe’s peace.”
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen confirmed she had discussed airspace violations with Trump and agreed on the need to further curb Moscow’s energy revenues.
Trump, when asked if he still trusted Putin as a negotiating partner, avoided a direct response, saying: “I’ll let you know in about a month.”
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
