US President Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine is unlikely to achieve victory in its conflict with Russia, according to remarks made at the White House on Monday. When questioned about the war, Trump said, “They could still win it. I don’t think they will, but they could still win it.” He added, “Anything could happen. War is a very strange thing. A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen.”
Trump also addressed allegations of Russian strikes on civilian areas in Ukraine, asserting that most casualties were soldiers. He cited weekly death tolls of 5,000 to 7,000 service members on both sides. Earlier this month, Trump suggested Ukraine might reclaim all territory lost to Russia after three years of conflict. Following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, he reiterated that Ukraine would likely relinquish some “property” to Russia in the war’s aftermath.
While Ukrainian leaders have rejected territorial concessions, Moscow has prioritized the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from newly annexed regions as a condition for peace. Trump’s approach contrasts with the Biden administration’s stance, as he recently met Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and announced plans for another summit in Budapest. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has offered to facilitate the meeting.