Kremlin rebukes Trump’s Ukraine pivot, calling Russia “a real bear”
After meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump surprised allies by saying on Truth Social and in a UN speech that, with European and NATO financial support, "Ukraine can fight and WIN all of Ukraine back" — a reversal of prior land‑swap hints that drew praise from hawkish Republicans and cautious optimism from Zelenskyy but skepticism from some Ukrainians. The Kremlin quickly rebuked the remarks: spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Trump’s "paper tiger" characterization, calling Russia "a real bear," defending Moscow’s economic resilience, labeling Ukrainian recapture of all territory misguided, and suggesting U.S. energy‑market motives.
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📰 Sources (12)
"Russia is a real bear": Kremlin responds to Trump's Ukraine comments
New information:
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov publicly responded to President Trump’s recent remarks, telling RBC Radio that 'Russia is a real bear' and rejecting Trump’s characterization of Putin as a 'paper tiger.'
- Peskov suggested Trump’s rhetorical shift followed his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and accused the U.S. of trying to boost American oil and LNG sales by urging Europe to ditch Russian fuels.
- Axios cites a Moscow Times translation of an RBC Radio interview as the basis for Peskov’s remarks.
Trump wears MAGA down with Ukraine reversal
New information:
- Reporting that MAGA-aligned outlets and influencers largely showed apathetic or muted responses to Trump's reversal.
- Quotes and reactions from MAGA figures (Steve Bannon, Raheem Kassam) characterizing the base's response as 'apathetic' or 'muted.'
- Context tying the muted MAGA reaction to contemporaneous domestic events (Charlie Kirk assassination, ICE facility shooting in Dallas) that are dominating conservative attention.
Ukrainians surprised yet cautious after Trump shifts stance on territory lost to Russia
New information:
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directly mocked the comment, saying 'Russia isn’t a tiger, it’s more associated with a bear... There are no paper bears.'
- On-the-ground quotes from Kyiv residents expressing cautious hope but skepticism about Trump's unpredictability (e.g., Olha Voronina, Volodymyr Cheslavskyi, Anna Khudimova).
- Oleksandr Merezhko (chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Policy) said Ukraine needs not just rhetoric but fulfillment of Trump-era promises on decisive sanctions against Russia.
- Article reiterates context that Russia has occupied roughly 20% of Ukraine since 2014 and links Ukrainian optimism to continued NATO and European support.
Russia rejects Trump's criticism over Ukraine war and its economy
New information:
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directly pushed back on President Trump’s assessment in an RBC radio interview and a later Kremlin briefing.
- Peskov said Russia’s 'premium markets' are now in the East, asserted Russia 'maintains macroeconomic stability' despite sanctions, and rejected the characterization of Russia as a 'paper tiger.'
- Peskov called the idea that Ukraine could recapture territory 'a misguided proposition' and reiterated that Russia continues its 'special military operation' to achieve stated goals.
Government shutdown odds increase. And, Trump shifts stance on Russia-Ukraine war
New information:
- At the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump publicly declared that Ukraine could reclaim all territory lost to Russia, a departure from his earlier positions that suggested Kyiv might need to cede land.
- NPR links the shift to Trump’s recent UNGA interactions with Zelenskyy and other European leaders and cites increased Russian attacks and NATO member complaints (Poland, Estonia) as factors.
- Reporting cites NPR's Michele Kelemen for diplomatic context, noting Trump met both Zelenskyy and European leaders at the UN.
Zelenskyy says he's surprised after Trump argues Ukraine can regain all its land
New information:
- Zelenskyy said he was 'a little bit' surprised by President Trump's Truth Social post asserting Ukraine could 'fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.'
- Zelenskyy directly reacted that he believes Trump's position on territorial 'swaps' has shifted, saying 'we can't just swap territories. It's not fair.'
- Article records Trump's Truth Social wording and Zelenskyy's off-camera reaction to Bret Baier's question — concrete direct quotes not highlighted in the earlier item
Trump and Zelenskyy signal stronger ties after UN meeting: 'Better relations than before'
New information:
- Zelenskyy told Fox News he believes 'we have better relations than before' following his meeting with President Trump at the U.N.
- Zelenskyy said phone calls and meetings with Trump have become more frequent and that intelligence shared between Kyiv and Washington 'is now more closely aligned.'
- Zelenskyy reacted positively to a Truth Social post by Trump about Ukraine retaking territory, saying Trump 'wants to support Ukraine to the very end' and has shifted against simple territory swaps.
Trump suggests Ukraine could reclaim territory from Russia
New information:
- PBS reports Trump delivered the policy shift during his first UN General Assembly speech of his second term, not only in a social media post after meeting Zelenskyy.
- Framing language: he said Ukraine could win back areas occupied or annexed by Russia since 2014 (Crimea and Donbas included), reinforcing the reversal from prior land‑for‑peace suggestions.
Trump, in major shift, suggests Ukraine can win back territory long held by Russia
New information:
- Trump’s verbatim phrasing: 'Why not?' and that Ukraine could 'maybe even go further than that!' regarding regaining all territory.
- Trump said NATO members should shoot down Russian aircraft violating NATO airspace and, when asked if the U.S. would back allies if that happened, replied: 'Depends on the circumstance, but you know we're very strong toward NATO.'
- Context of recent 'land‑swapping' stance: NPR notes Trump as recently as last month (after Alaska talks with Putin) spoke of possible territorial exchanges, underscoring the significance of the reversal.
- Zelenskyy backed Trump’s push to get NATO members to stop buying Russian energy; he said Slovakia’s prime minister seemed open to cutting imports, while 'not sure the Hungarians are ready.'
Trump's stunning pivot on Ukraine thrills hawkish Republicans
New information:
- Leading GOP foreign policy hawks (Sens. Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, Roger Wicker) publicly praised Trump's shift and said Ukraine can win, providing on‑the‑record quotes.
- Congressional leaders are awaiting a White House green light to advance a broadly bipartisan Russia sanctions package that would impose sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate and set a 500% tariff on goods from countries that buy Russian oil.
- Trump has signaled he will impose new U.S. sanctions only after NATO countries act first and stop buying Russian oil; he also suggested European nations impose tariffs on China.
- A bipartisan Senate group is pushing a separate bill to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over kidnapped Ukrainian children.
Trump says he now believes Ukraine can take back all of its land after Zelenskyy meeting
New information:
- Direct quote from Trump's post: “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... with the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders... is very much an option.”
- Confirms the statement was posted shortly after Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
- Emphasizes Trump’s call for European and NATO financial support as central to Ukraine reclaiming 'original borders.'
In extraordinary shift, Trump says Ukraine can win war with Russia
New information:
- Trump issued the remarks Sept. 23 on Truth Social following a meeting with Zelenskyy in New York
- He said Ukraine can win back 'all of Ukraine' with EU/NATO financial support and time
- He called Russia a 'paper tiger' in 'BIG Economic trouble' and said the U.S. will keep supplying weapons to NATO