US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s ability to achieve victory in its conflict with Russia, stating during a White House press briefing on Monday that “They could still win it. I don’t think they will, but they could still win it” when questioned about the war’s outcome.
Trump added, “I said they could win. Anything could happen. You know, war is a very strange thing. A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen,” as he addressed the unpredictable nature of warfare. When pressed on reports of Russian strikes targeting civilian areas in Ukraine, Trump asserted that most casualties were soldiers. He also claimed that approximately 5,000 to 7,000 military personnel from both sides die weekly in the conflict.
Earlier this month, Trump suggested Ukraine might reclaim all territory lost to Russia over the three-year war. Following a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he reiterated that Ukraine would likely forfeit some “property” to Moscow after the prolonged conflict. While Kyiv has rejected territorial compromises, Moscow has cited the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from newly annexed regions as a critical condition for peace.
Trump’s administration has shifted away from the Biden-era policy of distancing itself from Russia. In August, he met Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and last week announced plans for another summit in Budapest, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offering to mediate.
