Trump Suggests NATO Should Shoot Down Russian Aircraft, Believes Ukraine Can Win the War

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine could reclaim all territories seized by Russia. Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump shared his perspective on social media. He wrote, ‘I think that with the support of the European Union, Ukraine is in a position to fight and bring all of Ukraine back to its original form. With time, patience, and financial support from Europe and especially NATO, it is possible to reach the situation of those original borders with which this war started.’ During a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump was asked if he thought NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft entering their airspace, to which he replied, “Yes, I do.” When asked if he still trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin, he stated, “I’ll tell you in about a month.” Trump emphasized that with support from the European Union, Ukraine is positioned to fight and win, restoring its original form. The post did not address new U.S. sanctions or tariffs on Russia’s energy sector, though Trump has discussed both with European leaders. It also made no mention of direct U.S. arms sales to Ukraine, but suggested NATO members would continue buying U.S. weapons and transferring them to Ukraine.