On September 23, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump made one of his most audacious comments related to European security and the Ukraine war at the UN General Assembly in New York, with numbers of world leaders in attendance. At a discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump added NATO should have “shoot down” Russian aircraft which overhear NATO airspace, in reference to multiple recent incursions of Russian MiG-31 aircraft into Estonian airspace, as well as another series of incidents in which multiple drones were attacked and captured within Poland. He did not offer to send U.S. aircraft to do the shooting down, however he reaffirmed U.S. support of NATO, quickly adding it depended on “the circumstances.”
Trump then put out a post on Truth Social and said if it wanted Ukraine could “fight and win all of Ukraine back to original form,” apparently, he was referencing Ukraine’s 1991 borders where Crimea is included. He explained that Russia should be considered a “paper tiger” in the sense that a “week-long” expected and completed war is now 3.5 years and effectively ruined Russia’s economy and military integrity. According to Zelenskyy, who was briefing Trump, Ukrainian forces advanced 360km into Russian held territory and inflicted “heavy losses” on the Russians.
Concerning sanctions, Trump said he would pursue “a very strong round of tariffs” on Russia if it continuing to resist peace, but he first said Europe must end its purchase of Russian oil and gas. This puts pressure on Hungary and Slovakia, the two EU states still reliant on Russian energy. Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, an ally of Trump, has not yet yielded, but he is likely to be pressured by Washington as well.
Trump’s statements imply a firmer U.S. position: enhancing NATO’s deterrent posture, questioning the need for Russian strength in Ukraine, and offering the possibility of ultimate Ukrainian success, if Western engagement and support continue.
