“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” he wrote. “With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization], the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win.”

Trump, who has grown increasingly impatient with Russian President Vladimir Putin, contended Russia’s performance in the war has made it appear to be “a paper tiger,” and even suggested Ukraine might be in a position to take Russian territory.

“When the people living in Moscow, and all of the Great Cities, Towns, and Districts all throughout Russia, find out what is really going on with this War, the fact that it’s almost impossible for them to get Gasoline through the long lines that are being formed, and all of the other things that are taking place in their War Economy, where most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine, which has Great Spirit, and only getting better, Ukraine would be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!” he wrote. “Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act. In any event, I wish both Countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all!”

Ukraine gained independence in 1991 along the borders established by the Soviet Union when creating the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1922, with two major additions: the addition of former areas of the Second Polish Republic following World War II, and the Crimean peninsula, gifted to Ukraine by Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev in 1954.

After pro-Western demonstrations in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea. Soon after, pro-Russian rebels rose up in the Donbas provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk, seeking the addition of “Novorossiya” into Russia. Ukrainian counterattacks reduced the size of the self-declared Peoples’ Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, though Russian intervention preserved the rump states until the Russian invasion in 2022. Russia seized nearly all of Lugansk and most of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in its ongoing invasion. The areas were formally annexed in a controversial September 2022 referendum, but remain unrecognized by most of the world.

Trump backs NATO shooting down Russian aircraft in airspace

Before his meeting with Zelensky, Trump told reporters he endorsed his NATO allies shooting down Russian aircraft should they enter their airspace.

When asked if the United States would support NATO allies in responding to Russia’s recent airspace incursions, Trump said, “Depends on the circumstance.”

Trump and Zelensky’s meeting comes about six weeks after Trump sat down with Putin in Alaska. Since that meeting, neither side has moved closer to a ceasefire deal, let alone a peace accord.

Trump was also pressed on whether he trusts Putin, telling reporters, “I’ll let you know in about a month from now.”

Despite tensions between Trump and Zelensky, Trump expressed his respect for his counterpart, telling Zelensky his fight has been “pretty amazing.”

In response, the Ukrainian president thanked Trump and first lady Melania Trump for their support, particularly regarding the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children.

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Earlier Tuesday, Trump had meetings with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after criticizing their respective organizations, including in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” he said. “But inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy … Think of it, they’re funding the war against themselves.”

Trump’s comments regarding Russia’s aggressive actions in its neighbors’ skies come after almost two dozen Russian drones were reported over Poland earlier this month, escalating to airplanes over Estonia last Friday. Two to three drones near Copenhagen Airport in Denmark closed the airstrip on Monday night.

On Tuesday, Trump declined to comment on the Danish reports until he had received a complete briefing.

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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed Trump earlier in the day, telling reporters NATO is “a defensive alliance.”

“We are not naive,” Rutte said. “We see what is happening and whether it is intentional or not. If it is not intentional, then it is blatantly incompetent. And of course, even if it is incompetence, we still have to defend ourselves.”

Brady Knox contributed to this report.