Trump Says Ukraine Can Reclaim All Its Land — Calls Russia a ‘Paper Tiger’ After UNGA Talks

Trump Says Ukraine Can Win Back All Its Territory

U.S. President Donald Trump has made his boldest statement yet on Ukraine’s future, declaring that Kyiv has the strength, with Western support, to reclaim all of its lost land, including Crimea. The remarks followed his Tuesday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:

The reference to Ukraine’s “original form” appears to point to its 1991 borders, meaning Kyiv could reclaim not just the eastern territories occupied by Russia since 2022, but also Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

He went further, openly questioning Russia’s military power:
“Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years, a war that should have taken a real military power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger.’” This is the first time Trump has explicitly suggested Ukraine could take back all of its territory, while also downplaying Russia’s military might.

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Zelenskyy Updates Trump on the Battlefield

During their meeting, Zelenskyy gave Trump a blunt update from the front lines. Ukrainian troops, he said, had advanced nearly 360 kilometers in recent weeks and inflicted heavy losses on Russian forces.

“Thanks to our soldiers, we have this possibility, this opportunity, and we will continue until Russia will stop this war,” Zelenskyy said. But he also pressed for stronger international measures:
“We need more pressure and more sanctions.”

Trump at the UN: Stronger Sanctions If Europe Steps Up

In his UN address earlier that day, Trump reiterated that he is prepared to impose tougher sanctions and sweeping tariffs on Russia if Moscow refuses to negotiate an end to the war.

“The only precondition,” Trump said, “is for Europe to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas.” That remark put the spotlight on Hungary and Slovakia, both of which continue to buy Russian energy despite EU-wide pressure. Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó pushed back, arguing that his country had no infrastructure to buy elsewhere. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Trump, has likewise refused to budge. Yet Trump hinted he might intervene personally:
“He is a friend of mine. I have not spoken to him, but I have a feeling if I did, he might stop. And I think I’ll be doing that.”

NATO and Russia’s Airspace Violations

Trump also turned heads with his comments on Russia’s repeated airspace violations over NATO territory. When asked whether NATO countries should shoot down Russian drones and jets if they enter their airspace, Trump replied simply:
“Yes, I do.”

Though he stopped short of promising direct U.S. involvement, Trump stressed that the alliance must take a tougher stance. His comments came after:

• Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace on Friday.
• At least 19 Russian drones were detected in Poland a week earlier.
• Copenhagen and Oslo airports were temporarily shut down due to drone sightings.

European leaders, including Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, have said Russian involvement in the incidents “cannot be ruled out.” Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy, his speech at the UN, and his remarks on NATO signal a sharper shift:

• He is no longer just pushing for negotiations; he’s suggesting Ukraine can win outright.
• He’s putting Europe on notice, demanding stronger sanctions and an end to Russian energy imports.
• He’s questioning Russia’s military strength, branding them “a paper tiger.”
• And he’s hinting at more aggressive NATO responses to Moscow’s provocations.

Whether this rhetoric translates into concrete action remains to be seen. For now, one thing is clear: the U.S. president has publicly raised expectations that Ukraine’s 1991 borders are still within reach, and that Europe must do more to make it happen.