Trump Calls for NATO to Shoot Down Russian Planes, Believes Ukraine Can Win

Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Ukraine could regain all Russian-occupied territories. Trump’s stance was made clear in a social media post following their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He stated, ‘I believe that with the support of the European Union, Ukraine is in a position to fight and return all of Ukraine to its original form. This is possible with time, patience, and financial assistance from Europe, especially NATO.’ During a bilateral meeting at the UN, when asked if NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft in its airspace, Trump replied, “Yes, I do.” He also stated that he would provide an answer regarding his trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin in approximately a month. Trump believes Ukraine can fight and win, returning to its original form with the backing of the EU. The post did not include any details regarding new U.S. sanctions or tariffs on Russia’s energy sector. Trump has, however, discussed these issues with European leaders. Furthermore, the post did not include discussion about direct U.S. arms sales to Ukraine; instead, it hinted that NATO members would continue to purchase American weapons and transfer them to Ukraine.