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New York: US President Donald Trump made a major statement on Tuesday, saying that with the help of NATO and the European Union, Ukraine can regain all the territory it lost to Russia. Trump's latest statement has caused a stir worldwide and is a stark contrast to his earlier stance, in which he had called for Ukraine to bow to Russia to end the war. Trump made this statement on social media after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Trump's Change of Position a Success for Zelensky After meeting Zelensky, Trump said, "I believe that with the support of the European Union, Ukraine is in a position to fight and restore all of Ukraine to its original state. With time, patience, and financial support from Europe, and especially NATO, it is possible to return to the original borders from which this war began." This change of stance by Trump is a major success for Zelensky, who has long called for the US to maintain pressure against Russia. The two leaders greeted each other warmly during the meeting. "We have great respect for Ukraine's bravery." Trump said, "We have great respect for Ukraine's bravery." In response, Zelensky said, "We are getting good news from the battlefield. We will discuss ending this war and guaranteeing security." In his speech at the United Nations, Trump said that this war is causing embarrassment for Russia. He said, "Russia has been fighting a useless war for 2.5 years. A powerful army should have won this war in a week. It is making Russia look like a paper tiger." Trump also said that Russia's economic situation is worsening, which could prove crucial in ending the war. Appealing to Europe not to buy Russian oil. Trump reiterated his appeal to European countries to stop importing Russian oil and gas. He said that "tough tariffs" could be imposed to weaken Russia's economy, which could "quickly stop the bloodshed." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said after meeting with Trump that Europe would impose stricter sanctions on Russia and further reduce Russian energy imports. Meanwhile, tensions are rising among NATO countries. Estonia recently claimed that Russian fighter jets entered its airspace without permission. Trump said that if NATO countries wanted to shoot down Russian aircraft, he would support them, but direct US intervention would depend on the situation. Ukraine's losses in the war are increasing. The war, which began in February 2022, has caused massive devastation in Ukraine. According to the United Nations, the number of Ukrainian civilian deaths has increased by 40 percent in the first eight months of this year. Russia has intensified attacks with missiles, drones, and bombs. Trump initiated peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine after coming to power in January. He met with Putin and Zelensky and talked about arranging direct talks. But Putin showed no interest in talking to Zelensky, and Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine. Zelensky is meeting several world leaders in New York and is also scheduled to speak at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine. (PTI)