US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. AFP
US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. AFP
US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. AFP
US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. AFP

Trump says Ukraine can gain back all territory seized by Russia with Nato's help


Jihan Abdalla
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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Ukraine can reclaim all territory seized by Russia, in a turnaround on his position on the conflict.

In a long post on Truth Social, Mr Trump who is in New York attending the UN General Assembly, said Russia has been "aimlessly" fighting the war, making it look like a “a paper tiger".

“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 Nato, the original borders from where this war started is very much an option.”

The shift came after Mr Trump held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UNGA.

The two leaders have had strained relations in the past. Mr Trump attacked the Ukrainian leader in the White House when he visited this year, accusing him of being disrespectful and ungrateful to the US.

Mr Trump previously said that Ukraine would have to give up territory to reach a ceasefire with Russia.

Mr Trump, who took office in January, had campaigned on a promise to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, and stop US military funding.

“We have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up,” he told Mr Zelenskyy during the meeting on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian leader replied that he had “good news” from the battlefield.

“We will speak of how to finish the war and security guarantees,” Mr Zelenskyy said, adding that he was grateful for the US President's “personal efforts to stop this war”.

During the meeting, Mr Trump also said Nato should shoot down any Russian aircraft entering the alliance’s airspace.

“Yes, I do,” he said, when asked if he thought Nato members should take such action.

The US could support any Nato member, depending on the circumstances, he added.

“You know, we’re very strong towards Nato. Nato stepped up,” Mr Trump said.

The change in tone comes after Russian drones and fighter planes repeatedly breached Nato airspace in Eastern Europe and the Baltic, including Estonia and Poland.

Earlier on Tuesday, during his speech to the General Assembly, Mr Trump said he had been working relentlessly to stop the war in Ukraine.

"Of the seven wars that I stopped I thought that would be the easiest because of my relationship with President [Vladimir] Putin, which had always been a good one," he said.

"But you know, in war, you never know what's going to happen, there are always lots of surprises, both good and bad."

Last week, during a trip to the UK, Mr Trump said Mr Putin “really let me down”, although he added that he did not regret inviting him for a summit in Alaska, which ended without a deal in August.

He repeated his refusal to increase sanctions on Russia after being shocked to hear European countries were still buying Russian oil.

Mr Trump said that if the price of oil comes down, Mr Putin would "drop out of that war".

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Timeline

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The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Updated: September 23, 2025, 8:51 PM