Trump Signals Potential Shift in Ukraine Policy, Downplaying Territorial Recapture

President-elect Donald Trump has signaled a potential dramatic shift in US policy towards Ukraine, suggesting he would prioritize a negotiated settlement with Russia even if it means accepting Russian territorial gains, Bloomberg reports.

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, Trump urged Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to “be prepared to make a deal,” emphasizing the high human cost of the ongoing war.

 “It’s nice to say they want their land back, but the cities are largely destroyed,” he said, estimating a century-long rebuild would be necessary.

He further criticized the use of US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) by Ukraine to strike targets deep within Russia, a move approved by the current Biden administration.

“I don’t think they should have allowed missiles to be shot 200 miles into Russia,” Trump said.

The White House responded to Trump’s statements, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying that Ukraine must be a party to any talks concerning the country. He attributed the decision to supply ATACMS to the deployment of North Korean troops, while neglecting to mention ongoing US military aid to Ukraine, the presence of American mercenaries, the US intervention in the conflict, and domestic funding priorities.