“Ukraine, with the support of the EU, is capable of reclaiming all of Ukraine in its original form,” said Donald Trump, referring to the return of all lands occupied by Russia, including Crimea and Donbas. Photo by Getty Images
After the UN General Assembly, US President Donald Trump spoke about Ukraine in an optimistic mood. Why is this turn of events worrying allies and could have dangerous consequences for NATO? Highlights from Reuters and NYT materials
Buy an annual subscription to six Forbes Ukraine magazines for the price of four issues. If you value the quality, depth, and power of real-world experience, this subscription is for you.
The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took place on September 23 in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The context of the meeting was tense, as Russia continues to escalate attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, and Ukraine demands new sanctions against the aggressor state and security guarantees from the US. “Putin and Russia have major economic problems, and it is time for Ukraine to act,” Trump wrote after the meeting on Truth Social, sharply changing the tone of his statements regarding the war, Reuters reports.
“Good and constructive” meeting
“Ukraine, with the support of the EU, is capable of retaking all of Ukraine in its original form,” Trump said, referring to the return of all Russian-occupied lands, including Crimea and Donbas. But he did not explain how this could be achieved without the restoration of massive US aid or new sanctions against Russia, Reuters and NYT noted.
Popular Category Money Date October 01 A trend among retailers. Rozetka is the fourth retail chain to launch its own payment cards. How can the company make money from this?
Despite the loud words, there was little political concreteness. Zelensky publicly called the meeting “good, constructive” and noted in an interview with Fox News that “the positions of the Ukrainian and American teams are closer than ever.” But at the same time, there were no promises from the US side about either a new package of sanctions or the restoration of tens of billions of dollars in aid.
The only clear signal was Trump's phrase: “We will continue to supply weapons to NATO so that NATO can do with them what it deems necessary,” writes Reuters.
The meeting between the Ukrainian and US presidents was also symbolic because it took place just five weeks after the summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. There, the American president, by contrast, demonstrated a willingness to compromise with the Kremlin. So the current turn of events came as a surprise to both allies and critics.
“These are very strong statements that we have not heard before in this format. It is good that now we have a common understanding,” says the head of European diplomacy, Kaia Kallas, commenting on Trump's words.
Donald Trump speaks at the UN General Assembly with statements about Ukraine's ability to reclaim all its territories. Photo: Getty Images
Trump's rhetorical vacillations
Back in the summer, Trump insisted that Zelensky should “face reality” and cede territory for peace with Russia. “You have no cards,” he shouted at the Ukrainian president in the Oval Office in February 2025, the NYT recalls. In the spring, he demonstrated his favor to Putin by not imposing tariffs on Russia, and in the summer, he received him with a red carpet in Alaska.
Now Trump has called the Russian army a “paper tiger” and admitted that “Ukraine can reclaim all of its territory within its original borders.” However, the American president has never been able to explain why he changed his position.
The rhetorical shift could give Trump space to distance himself from a conflict he once promised to resolve in a matter of days or weeks, the NYT writes.
World leaders discuss the future of European security and support for Ukraine. Photo: Getty Images
Between promises and reality
The key issue in resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war is now becoming not so much Trump's rhetoric, but NATO's practical actions.
The decision to shoot down Russian drones and planes in European airspace will be made by Britain, France and Germany, along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. These countries will also determine the scope and pace of military support for Ukraine, the NYT adds.
However, Trump's statements about the right of allies to shoot down Russian targets in their skies only increase the risks.
On September 19, Russian fighter jets were in Estonian airspace for more than 12 minutes, and on the night of September 10, 19 Russian drones flew deep into Poland. Trump called it a “mistake,” but French President Emmanuel Macron immediately denied it, writes the NYT. When asked directly whether the United States was prepared to intervene in the event of a war between Russia and NATO in the air, Trump replied: “It depends on the circumstances.”
Delegations from Poland and Estonia are pushing for decisive action against Russian drone attacks. Photo: Getty Images
In this context, Trump's words may not be a signal of deterrence for the Kremlin, but rather an invitation to escalation.
Putin, who after the meeting in Alaska was convinced that the United States would not provide more aid to Ukraine or deploy its military contingent on its territory, may decide that time and resources are on his side. This makes the current situation more dangerous than ever, the NYT concludes.
Materials on the topic
Category World Date September 19 Cautious diplomacy . Pressure on Russia, the oil issue and problems around Ukraine and Palestine. Five conclusions from the meeting between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer from foreign media
Category World Date September 18 The visit was not only ceremonial, but also economic and political. Donald Trump met with King Charles III for the first time as a monarch of Great Britain. How did the meeting go? Media reaction
Category World Date September 18 “The situation resembles the end of World War I.” What economic pressure will force Russia to end the war and what is Europe capable of without the US? Interview with Anders Åslund
Category War Date September 17 “Trump's Putin Strategy Has Failed.” How to End the War? Forbes Asked Representatives of Western Political Elites About This at the YES Conference
Category World Date September 13 “Trump does not want to go down in history as the one who lost Ukraine.” Interview with Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Category World Date September 04 In Trump we trust . How the Ukrainian religious lobby works in the US – five stories. Analysis Forbes Ukraine
Category World Date September 01 “Ordered Multipolarity.” How Trump is Unintentionally Uniting China, India, and Russia Against the Current World Order? Conclusions from the SCO Summit by WP and Bloomberg
