Trump Says Ukraine Can Regain ‘As Much Land as Possible’ but Forget NATO Hopes

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President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that Russia would have to make “concessions” in negotiations with Ukraine but made it clear that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should abandon any aspirations of NATO membership.  

 

Speaking before his first Cabinet meeting, Trump addressed the ongoing war and what Ukraine could potentially reclaim in a peace settlement. While he had previously been hesitant to specify how much occupied land Ukraine might regain, he acknowledged that his administration would work toward restoring as much territory as possible. “We’re going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides, but for Ukraine, we’re going to try very hard to make a good deal so that they can get as much back as possible. We want to get as much back as possible,” Trump told reporters.  

 

 

Russia currently holds Crimea and extensive regions of eastern Ukraine, which together make up roughly 20% of the country. Trump did not disclose what compromises he expected from either side in a potential agreement, but he made it clear that NATO membership for Ukraine was off the table. “NATO, you can forget about,” he said. “I think that’s probably the reason the whole thing started.”  

 

Zelensky has been vocal about Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, seeing membership as a guarantee of long-term security and protection against further Russian aggression. Under NATO’s Article 5, an attack on one member state is treated as an attack on all, compelling military intervention from allies. Over the weekend, Zelensky signaled his willingness to step down from the presidency—following Trump’s calls for new elections in Ukraine—if it meant securing NATO membership for his country.  

 

Trump also clarified that the U.S. would not be offering additional security guarantees beyond the mineral deal Zelensky is set to sign in Washington on Friday. According to a report from the *Financial Times*, the agreement does not include direct security provisions but establishes a mineral fund between the U.S. and Ukraine. Trump framed the deal as an indirect safeguard, saying, “The fund will serve as sort of automatic security” for Ukraine, as American workers would be present on Ukrainian soil after the war ends to extract minerals.  

 

Despite Russian opposition to the idea, Trump reiterated his support for deploying European peacekeepers to Ukraine, emphasizing that securing a deal would be the most challenging aspect of the process. “Peacekeeping is very easy, it’s making the deal that’s very tough,” he said.  

 

No date has been set for a Trump-Putin meeting, but both governments have indicated that further delegation-level discussions must take place before the two leaders meet face-to-face.

 

 

Based on a report by NYP  2025-02-28