Trump Expresses Doubts Over Ukraine’s War Chances, Will Meet Putin Soon For Peace Talks

President Donald Trump expressed scepticism on Monday about Ukraine's ability to defeat Russia in their ongoing war, stating that while victory remains possible, he now doubts it will occur. Speaking to reporters at the White House during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump remarked, “They could still win it. I don’t think they will, but they could still win it,” adding that war is unpredictable. This assessment comes as Trump prepares for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, in the coming weeks to discuss ending the conflict. The comments, reported from Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the developments, inject fresh uncertainty into Kyiv's strategy, especially following Trump's recent reversal on territorial concessions and calls for an immediate ceasefire along current front lines.

Trump's evolving stance follows a series of high-level engagements, including a call with Putin last week and a White House meeting with Zelenskyy on October 17, 2025. During that discussion, Trump informed Zelenskyy that Putin's demands—requiring Ukraine to cede full control of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions—remain unchanged, despite earlier signals of flexibility. Zelenskyy described the talks as “positive” and spanning over two hours, noting Trump's support for freezing the conflict where it stands. However, Trump rebuffed Zelenskyy's request for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could enable deeper strikes into Russian territory.

Zelenskyy suggested this hesitation stems from Trump's desire to avoid escalation before his Putin summit, telling reporters, “In my opinion, he does not want an escalation with the Russians until he meets with them.” Publicly, Trump had warmed to the idea of providing the missiles in recent weeks, but his tone shifted post-Putin call, prioritising de-escalation.

The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has devastated Ukraine's infrastructure and economy, displacing millions and causing tens of thousands of casualties. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions, part of the industrial Donbas heartland, have been flashpoints since 2014, when separatist conflicts erupted with Russian backing. Putin's latest proposal, floated through Trump, involves swapping Russian-held territories in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia for Ukrainian concessions in the east—a plan Zelenskyy deemed unclear and unviable.

Despite the rebuff on missiles, Zelenskyy highlighted shared optimism for peace, crediting Trump's Middle East diplomatic successes as a model. He also addressed broader U.S.-Ukraine cooperation, including interest in gas projects like an LNG terminal in Odesa, nuclear energy ventures, and oil initiatives. On defence, Ukraine seeks to acquire 25 Patriot systems using frozen Russian assets, though production delays necessitate European aid acceleration, a topic raised with Trump.

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Zelenskyy's diplomatic tone masked underlying tensions, including pressure to accept Putin's terms and echoes of a February 2025 Oval Office clash where Trump publicly scolded him for perceived ingratitude over U.S. aid. Regarding the upcoming Budapest talks—hosted by Hungary, which has blocked EU support for Ukraine—Zelenskyy expressed cautious hope but criticised Prime Minister Viktor Orban as unhelpful, stating he doubts Orban's capacity for balanced contributions.

Uninvited to the summit, Zelenskyy said he would attend only if the format ensures fairness to Kyiv. He believes all parties have inched closer to resolution, though he cautioned it is not guaranteed. As Trump navigates these reversals—from advocating full territorial recovery to urging a stalemate—the summit looms as a potential turning point, balancing U.S. strategic interests with Ukraine's sovereignty amid global calls for a just end to the bloodshed.

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