President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine could restore its borders to their pre-invasion state and that NATO member countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace, escalating his rhetoric against Russia as the war in Ukraine continues.
Taken together, Trump’s remarks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly about shooting down Russian aircraft, as well as his subsequent Truth Social post about Ukraine’s borders, appeared to reflect a significant shift in his attitude toward Moscow and what the end of the intractable conflict might look like.
His comments on Ukraine’s borders are the first time since taking office that he has suggested the country could reclaim all of the territory taken by Russia since 2014. He previously suggested that in order to secure a peace deal, Ukraine would have to give up some of its territory. And his statement about NATO shooting down aircraft suggests a willingness to put the defense alliance in more direct conflict with Russia rather than simply providing weapons to Ukraine.
“Yes, I do,” Trump replied when asked about NATO shoot-downs during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Later, on Truth Social, Trump stated that after gaining a better understanding of Ukraine’s and Russia’s economic and military situations, he had concluded that “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.” He claimed that the conflict was making Russia look like a “paper tiger,” costing Moscow a lot of money, and making it difficult to get gas.
“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe, particularly NATO, the original borders where this war began are very much an option. Why not? Trump wrote in a lengthy post, adding, “Ukraine would be able to reclaim their country in its original form, and who knows, maybe even go further! Putin and Russia are in serious economic trouble, and now is the time for Ukraine to act.
CNN has asked the White House to specify which borders Trump is referring to.
Zelensky praised Trump’s post as “a big shift,” describing the US leader as “a gamechanger.”
“Trump’s post is a significant shift,” Zelensky said at a press conference later that afternoon.
Zelensky told reporters that he briefed Trump “on what’s going on,” and that the US president “agreed with” him on the battlefield situation.
“I believe the president is aware of some details. I believe he is more knowledgeable than before. And I am pleased with this, and I am grateful to him, or perhaps also to his people, who briefed him,” Zelensky said.
When asked if Trump believes Ukraine can win, Zelensky responded, “Trump is a game changer on his own.”
However, just a few hours after Trump’s post, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a different stance, saying the war “cannot end militarily.”
“It will end at a negotiating table,” Rubio stated at a UN Security Council meeting about the conflict. “That’s where this war will end.”
“The United States remains as committed as it’s ever been to a peaceful resolution to this dangerous conflict,” the president told the United Nations. He said the United States may conclude that there is no peaceful solution. He urged the council, which included Russia, to “do everything in their power” to “bring this war to an end.”
No indication the US will provide more support
In his Truth Social post, Trump suggested that Ukraine could win the war with European support, but made no mention of the US becoming more involved. CNN has asked the Trump administration if it will continue to support Ukraine.
Recent Russian aircraft incursions over Poland, Estonia, and other nations have resulted in NATO’s first direct encounters with Moscow since the start of the Ukraine war, putting the alliance’s preparedness and credibility in deterring Russia’s aggression to the test.
European leaders have expressed outrage and promised to respond with force. However, NATO’s leader stated on Tuesday that shooting down Russian aircraft should be done only after a thorough analysis of intent.
According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, shoot-downs should be based “on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft, including questions we have to answer like intent, armaments, and potential risk to allies, forces, civilians, or infrastructure.”
“We will always assess the situation, assess the immediate threat the plane poses,” Rutte assured us. He was speaking following a NATO meeting called by Estonia after Russian jets violated its airspace last week.
Speaking a few hours later, Trump appeared less cautious, offering no qualifiers about when or if NATO members should shoot down Russian aircraft. He also declined to say whether the United States would join the effort.
“Depends on the circumstance,” he said. “But you know, we’re very strong toward NATO.”
Rubio more cautious
The president’s remarks came hours after Rubio stated that the US would not shoot down Russian jets that entered NATO airspace, but that the alliance would continue to intercept them.
Rubio stated that NATO allies would not shoot down Russian aircraft “unless they’re attacking.”
“I think what you’ve seen is NATO responding to those intrusions in the same way we always do: when they enter your airspace or defense zone, you go up and intercept them,” Rubio told CBS News on Tuesday.
NATO members have scrambled in recent weeks after Russian drones and planes violated their airspace. Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission on Friday. This occurred a week after several Russian drones and fighter jets entered Polish airspace, prompting a scramble of F-15 and F-35 fighter jets.
On Monday, two of Scandinavia’s busiest airports, Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen, Denmark, were forced to close for several hours due to drone sightings, disrupting tens of thousands of people’s travel plans.
When asked about the incident on Tuesday, Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said she “cannot reject in any way that it could be Russia” behind it.
When asked about the incident on Tuesday, President Trump declined to blame Russia.
“I have no response until I know exactly what happened. Although I am aware of the situation, they are unaware. “But we’ll find out soon,” he said.
During a heated emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, European allies warned that if Russian jets or drones violated NATO airspace again, they would shoot them down.
The incursions have raised questions about Europe’s readiness to defend itself against Russian aggression. Trump has warned the continent that it must do more to strengthen its own security and has called on other NATO members to provide funding for Ukraine’s military assistance.
Rutte said on Tuesday that NATO was ready to defend itself.
“We have all the defensive systems in place to make sure that we can defend every inch of allied territory,” according to him. “That’s what we have shown both in the Polish case as well as in the Estonian case.”
