Contrary to his previous remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported desire for “land swaps” with Ukraine, US President Donald Trump made a dramatic shift on the issue Tuesday (US time). While at the United Nations General Assembly, the 79-year-old politician met up with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines.
Trump changes tune on Ukraine-Russia crisis
Shortly after their meeting, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social, and wrote, “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.”
Switching his stance on the ongoing crisis, he went on to call Russia a “paper tiger,” adding, “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. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win.”
Zelenskyy showers Trump with praises after UNGA meeting
Thereafter, Zelenskyy hailed Trump’s post, calling it a “big shift” at a news conference at the UNGA. The Ukrainian leader further told reporters at the event that he briefed the American commander-in-chief about “what’s going on” the battlefield, thereby revealing that even Trump “agreed with” him on the issue.
Zelenskyy added Trump “knows more details… than before,” while expressing his gratitude to the US president. “Trump is a game changer by himself,” the war-time Ukrainian leader replied when asked about his American counterpart’s shifting views about Ukraine potentially winning against Russia. Before sitting down for a chat, Zelenskyy even called Trump a “brave man” for “putting up one hell of a fight against Putin’s country.
Putin ‘afraid’ of bilateral meeting: Zelenskyy
Eventually, the Ukrainian president made headlines for an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. During that conversation, he told the American outlet that Trump “understands” why Ukraine can’t agree to land swaps with Russia. Simultaneously, he accused of his Russian opponent of being “afraid” to sitting down for a face-to-face meeting with him.
“He’s afraid,” Zelenskyy told Fox News. “He’s not afraid of me… he’s afraid of such a meeting,” adding that Putin was scared of the potential “outcome” of a such a bilateral interaction.
Earlier this month, the Russian president invited Zelenskyy to Moscow, saying, “I am ready, please, come, we will definitely provide conditions for work and security.” In the same breath, he dismissed the possibility of a neutral, third-party country hosting such a meeting between them, branding it an “excessive request.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha, on the other hand, accused the Russian leader of “knowingly” offering such “unacceptable proposals.” Meanwhile, Zelenskyy also rejected the Moscow invite, saying, “As I see it, if your aim is to prevent a meeting, then inviting me to Moscow is the way to go.”