Former President Donald Trump stated on 23/9 that he believes Ukraine can regain all Russian-controlled territory and should act now, given Russia's economic struggles.

"Having studied and understood the military and economic situation between Ukraine and Russia, and seeing the economic problems Russia is facing, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union (EU), is in a position to fight and reclaim all of its original territory," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Former President Donald Trump addresses the United Nations General Assembly on 23/9. Photo: AP

Former President Donald Trump addresses the United Nations General Assembly on 23/9. Photo: AP

Trump described Russia's actions as a "pointless fight" lasting three and a half years, in a conflict he claimed should have taken "less than a week to win." "This doesn't make Russia look good," he emphasized.

He also affirmed that Washington will continue supplying weapons so NATO "can do what they want," seemingly referencing the new mechanism allowing Europe to purchase American weapons for transfer to Ukraine, amidst Kyiv's dwindling arsenal in the intense conflict with Moscow.

This marks a significant shift from Trump's previous stance, maintained over the past year, that Ukraine couldn't win or regain its lost territory.

During a heated Oval Office exchange last February, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv didn't "have enough cards" to win against Moscow. In August, he even suggested Ukraine might have to "cede territory" for lasting peace.

With stalled Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Trump has grown impatient. He has repeatedly threatened harsher sanctions against Russia but hasn't acted, even as the Kremlin ignored his ultimatums.

BBC analyst Anthony Zurcher suggests Trump's statement may not be a drastic policy change but a tactic in his unpredictable diplomacy to pressure Russia.

Unpredictability has long been Trump's foreign policy hallmark. His statement on Ukrainian territory appears part of an effort to inject momentum into peace negotiations that have stagnated for over a month, following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Alaska summit.

"The most notable message in the post is perhaps at the end, with the commitment that the US will continue to sell weapons to NATO, and then NATO can transfer them to Ukraine," Zurcher observed. While not an "almost unlimited commitment" like the Biden administration's, it's a significant step up from Trump's earlier position.

A senior administration official says Trump's post is his way of "exerting maximum public pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table to end the conflict." The next step depends on Moscow's reaction.

Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy expressed skepticism about Trump's message. "Don't get too excited about every one of his posts," Polyanskiy said.

Currently, allies don't expect Trump's comments to translate into concrete US actions, like new sanctions on Russia or military aid to Ukraine. But Ukraine may be encouraged that Trump isn't directing anger at them or suggesting territorial concessions.

President Zelensky expressed surprise at Trump's new stance, praising it as a "big change."

"We've always said Russia has been weakened," said a Western official from a "Coalition of Good Will" nation supporting Ukraine. "They are more negatively impacted by sanctions than some think. We completely agree with President Trump's assessment."

French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on the afternoon of 23/9, welcomed Trump's statement. "That's a very, very correct assessment," he said. "If we stand united in supporting Ukraine in this situation, considering Russia's economic difficulties, I think this is an opportunity for a good future."

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, called Trump's shift a "game changer."

"The commitment to continue selling American weapons to NATO so Ukraine can benefit will significantly alter the military balance against Russia," he posted online. "President Trump is right in assessing that Russia's economy is struggling." Graham added that if the US sanctions those buying Russian oil and gas, the situation will "get worse" for Moscow.

Former President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on 23/9. Photo: AP

Former President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on 23/9. Photo: AP

Mykola Murskyj, director of policy advocacy at Razom for Ukraine, a US advocacy group supporting Ukraine, believes Trump's comments are a show of strength and a tough stance, signaling to Putin his readiness for strong action if Moscow doesn't compromise.

Veteran commentator Tom Nichols of The Atlantic suggests Trump once believed his personal rapport with Putin would make the Ukraine conflict easy to resolve. However, it has become one of his biggest challenges in his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize.

Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London, also believes Trump's motivation is frustration with Russia's apparent disinterest in a genuine solution, offering only "unrealistic" terms for a ceasefire.

"The president is signaling to the Kremlin that he also has limits that they shouldn't test," Nichols emphasized.

Vu Hoang (The Atlantic, BBC, NBC News, WSJ)