Washington DC –
Suddenly the tone of US President Donald Trump changed about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It no longer showed a sense of admiration for the authoritarian power of Vladimir Putin, he instead wrote Ukraine to reclaim all his territories, “and maybe more than that,” he wrote on the Social Truth platform.
The shocking statement came after Trump’s speech at the United Nations General Session in New York, USA, which was also marked by a meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I fully understand the military and economic situation of Ukraine and Russia,” Trump wrote.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
“I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, can fight and reclaim the entire territory in its original form. With time, patience, and financial assistance from Europe – especially NATO – Recovery of the territory that is the origin of this war is not impossible. Why not? Russia has fought without a direction for three and a half years, the war that should be won by true military strength in less than a week.”
Trump repeated that view in a follow -up meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. He said Russia was at risk of becoming a “paper tiger”, because his military success was limited despite swallowing many lives. However, he also admitted that this war was likely to last a long time.
Zelensky: “We will see later”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Trump’s statement with limited optimism. In an interview with Fox News, he called Trump’s upload as an encouraging small surprise.
“I see a very positive signal that Trump and America will stand on our side until the war is over. We will see, but may God bless this become a reality,” he said.
Zelensky described his latest meeting with Trump running “well” and the most comprehensive “discussion compared to before. He admitted that he now has a better relationship with Trump.
In February, the second meeting at the Oval Office ended in chaos in front of the camera. At that time, Zelensky tried to explain the position of Ukraine in defending herself by all means of Russian aggression, but eventually they were asked to leave the White House.
Now, Trump actually expressed his admiration to Zelenksy. “He is a brave man who fought in a fierce war,” the official statement of the White House was quoted from the X account of the US President.
Various responses in Ukraine
Trump’s new rhetoric reaps various responses from the political circles of Ukraine. The advisor to the Ukraine Presidential Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, suspected the change in attitude because Trump realized that “Putin has completely destroyed his own reputation.”
“Trump originally hoped that his closeness to Putin would help him find a solution to the big conflict that hit all of Europe. He wanted to appear as a strong American leader in the process. But now he is aware, it is all illusions,” Podolyak told Deutsche Welle.
He said the most important thing about this change of rhetoric was the readiness of the US selling more weapons to European countries through NATO. “It all must get to the battlefield,” he said.
Podolyak is also grateful for the US pressure on Europe to stop half-hearted sanctions against Russia-which has reached 18 packages-and switched to real ban, including secondary sanctions to countries that still buy energy from Russia. According to him, economic pressure is the only effective way to make Kremlin stop the war.
But not all parties in Ukraine are optimistic. Oleksiy Honcharenko from the “European Solidarity” opposition warned that Trump’s statement could lead to false hope.
“That’s not a real help. He just wants to wash his hands from this conflict. Trump doesn’t talk about the victory of Ukraine. He said: ‘Take care of himself with the European Union. Good luck.'”
His faction member, Volodymyr Ariev, also advised the people of Ukraine not to foster illusions.
“Trump’s position is basically unchanged. He only repeats what we already know: Ukraine can win if he has enough weapons, and the war will continue.”
Ariev added, only if Trump and Europe sent more weapons and imposed severe sanctions, then it could be discussed changes in war conditions. “For now, we must survive and rely on our own defense strength.”
Jaroslav Zhelezniak from the “Holos” party opposition is even shorter. “What’s new from Trump’s words and what does it mean to us? Nothing. What can we expect after this? Also nothing.”
From the government of the government, the same tone was heard. Danylo Hetmantsev from the party “Diener Des Volkes” said Trump finally realized that Russia did not want peace. But he considered Trump’s statement about the war that would last a long time was a bad scenario.
“That means even Trump, who used to believe he could quickly end the war and win the Nobel Peace Prize, now not sure he can do it,” he wrote in Telegram.
Why now?
Director of the “Ukrainian Meridian” Social Research Center, Dmytro Lewus, believes Trump’s change of rhetoric is the result of Diplomatic Ukraine’s hard work and his European partners. Kyiv insisted on his position. Zelensky’s visit to Washington with the leaders of the European Union and NATO was called the success of Ukraine.
Russia also influenced Trump, according to Lewus. Despite getting various forms of concessions, Moscow still insisted on his position, even demanding that Kyiv surrender. The arrogant attitude of Russia, he said, could make Trump disappointed.
But the Oleksandr Kraeiev, North American expert from Ukrainian Prism, skeptical. “This is only a parrot diplomacy from Trump. He only repeated what he had recently heard. He met European and Ukraine delegates, then said what we wanted to hear. In his book Trump wrote, tell people what they wanted to hear to reach an agreement.”
Kraiev added, Trump currently demands Europe imposing sanctions on China, India, and other countries in favor of Russia, while he himself only wants to appear as a mediator.
“So, this is the right and positive step, but still based on its own interests.”
Similar opinions came from Taras Setsovets – Former journalists who are now planners of political strategies and military personnel. He suspected Trump’s new rhetoric about Ukraine was more related to changes in American tactics to China.
“The statement was more attempt to raise bets, not against Moscow, but to Beijing. I am sure that the military parade in Tiananmen impressed Trump, and now he actually provoked enemies that he actually considered the main. Because of that his attitude changed.
Adapted from the Ukraine language by Markian Ostaptschuk
Adapted by Rizki Nugraha
Editor: Yuniman Farid
(nvc/nvc)
