U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Ukraine’s chances of defeating Russia, telling reporters at the White House that while “they could still win it,” he does not believe they will.
“Anything could happen. War is a very strange thing,” Trump said when pressed on his assessment of the ongoing conflict.
Asked about reports of Russian strikes on civilian areas, Trump claimed that most of those killed were soldiers and estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 troops from both sides die each week. The president has previously suggested Ukraine might one day reclaim its lost territories, but his recent comments marked a shift toward a more pessimistic outlook.
Trump reiterated that Ukraine is likely to lose “some of its property” to Russia as part of any eventual peace settlement. While Kiev continues to reject any territorial concessions, Moscow has demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from regions it now considers part of Russia.
Since taking office, Trump has pursued a more open line of communication with Moscow than his predecessor, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this year and planning another summit in Budapest, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offering to host the talks.
