US President Donald Trump has said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin could potentially push him into taking Ukraine’s side in the ongoing war. In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump suggested that while he may not align with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally, he might still support Ukraine as a nation if provoked further by the Kremlin.
Trump’s comments reveal a complex and conditional stance. When asked if he could see a situation in which he would provide significant military support to Ukraine, Trump replied that not all weapons are physical. “Not necessarily weapons. There are many types of weapons. Not necessarily weapons with bullets. It could be weapons with sanctions. It could be weapons with banking. It could be many other weapons,” he explained, implying economic pressure may be his preferred tool.
Pressed further on whether he would take Zelenskyy’s side, Trump clarified: “Not necessarily on Zelenskyy’s side, but on Ukraine’s side, yes.” He added that he had found interactions with Zelenskyy difficult, referencing a previous Oval Office meeting where the Ukrainian President pushed for security assurances. Trump appeared to be frustrated, stating, “We forced Ukraine to do the right thing… He was talking about security afterwards. I said, ‘Security?’ I actually said, ‘I do not even know if we can put an end to this.’”
Trump went on to mention that he had reminded Zelenskyy of the financial aid provided, claiming the US had already helped Ukraine with 350 billion US dollars (approximately £281 billion), and expressed concern that European nations were contributing far less.
The interview took place on Thursday, 24 April, just before Trump met Zelenskyy in the Vatican on 26 April. After the meeting, Trump claimed the discussion had gone well and hinted that the next few days would indicate whether any real progress had been made. However, his messaging remains mixed.
Following the meeting, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, criticising Putin for recent missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas. He questioned whether Putin truly wants to stop the war and suggested again that sanctions could be an appropriate tool.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that this week will be decisive for ongoing peace negotiations, signalling that Washington is watching Moscow’s actions closely.
Trump’s hesitancy to show clear support for Ukraine’s democratically elected leadership and his avoidance of direct condemnation of the Kremlin had raised concerns among Kyiv’s allies. While he leaves the door open to aiding Ukraine, his approach appears transactional and ambiguous.
