Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine is experiencing territorial losses in the ongoing conflict, attributing its ability to continue fighting primarily to international arms supplies. He characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “shrewd” and referenced a tense meeting in the Oval Office.
In his remarks, Trump asserted, “They (Ukraine) are losing territory,” while also acknowledging that Russia is incurring losses. He emphasized that access to weaponry is crucial for Ukraine’s defense, stating, “They have the ability to fight because—regardless of whether the equipment is great or not—they have the means to engage in combat.”
Trump elaborated on the logistics of arms supplies, explaining that the United States sells weapons to NATO, which then distributes them to Ukraine. He noted, “We sell this to NATO, primarily, and they are the ones distributing it. I will say this: they (the Ukrainians) have the ability, regardless of whether the equipment is good or not—they have the ability to fight.”
He further acknowledged the effectiveness of the Ukrainian military, claiming they have proven to be more capable than any European army in the current conflict. “They are better than anyone in Europe in this fight,” Trump remarked, adding that the Ukrainian armed forces outperform any of the U.S. allies in NATO.
Trump also criticized the assistance provided to Ukraine by current President Joe Biden, describing the transfer of $350 billion in weapons and funds as “just ridiculous.” He remarked, “You buy missiles, you have to pay for them. They are begging for it.”
Regarding Zelensky, Trump reiterated his view of the Ukrainian leader as “a shrewd guy,” indicating that he generally has a good rapport with him, aside from one notably aggressive moment during their meeting in early 2025.
Trump expressed disappointment with NATO allies, claiming that they did not support the U.S. when it was needed. He stated, “When we needed NATO—they were not there for us,” and reminded listeners that the U.S. had historically financed NATO significantly. He conveyed skepticism about the reliability of allies in the event of a major conflict, stating, “If we ever have a big war or something larger—I don’t believe they will be with us.”
Donald Trump has discussed Ukraine's territorial losses and the role of NATO in supplying arms, emphasizing the importance of military support for Ukraine's ongoing defense. He also expressed skepticism about NATO's reliability in future conflicts.