Overview

• Trump shifted course at the UN General Assembly after meetings with Volodymyr Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen, saying Ukraine can retake all occupied territory with EU and NATO support.
• He described Russia as a “paper tiger” facing economic strain and argued that restoring Ukraine’s pre‑war borders is viable with European financing.
• Trump said the United States will continue supplying weapons to NATO for transfer, signaling no pledge of direct U.S. combat involvement.
• Zelensky welcomed the reversal as a “great change,” while NATO officials stressed threat‑based decisions on airspace violations and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said allies typically intercept unless under attack.
• The Kremlin called Trump’s stance an error, as recent Russian incursions over Poland and Estonia prompted allied consultations on responses to airspace breaches.