Russia a ‘paper tiger’: How Trump changed his position on Ukraine, NATO
Trump’s most recent flip-flop comes after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the UNGA sidelines.
By Sarah Shamim
Published On 24 Sep 202524 Sep 2025
United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine – with the support of the European Union and NATO – can win back its territory captured by Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in a dramatic U-turn from his previous position that both sides will have to cede land to end the war.
Here’s a closer look at what Trump is saying now and how his position has shifted.
What has Trump said about Ukraine this week?Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”
Trump even mentioned NATO, which he has often criticised in the past: “With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.”
He also took aim at Russia, saying it has been fighting the war “aimlessly” and looks like a “paper tiger”. A paper tiger is someone or something which appears intimidating but does not pose much of a real threat.
The war in Ukraine has raged since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion into the country, which it described as a “special military operation”.
Trump said that the war would have taken a “Real Military Power” less than a week to win.
“Ukraine would be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that! Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act.”
Trump closed his post, saying: “In any event, I wish both Countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all!”
aljazeera.com
Trump uses the words of his envoy to Ukraine Gen. Kellogg who is at the meeting of the UN General Assembly as well. He's always been prone to echo the words of the last person he's consulted with.
Technically, Trump hasn't change his position. He's consistently pleaded for a temporary ceasefire all along so that he can rebuild the proxy forces in Ukraine, restock its weapons, and establish a foreign military occupation by US and NATO inside Ukraine to protect the supply lines |
