Ukraine's attacks on Russia could help end war, Trump says

The reasoning was exposed this Wednesday (8) by American President Donald Trump, when questioned by journalists alongside his Ukrainian colleague, Volodimir Zelenski. They participated in the NATO military alliance summit in Ankara (Türkiye).

"It's an escalation, but an escalation that can help bring an end [to the war]," said Trump, in a speech that will fall like a bombshell in the pressured political circles of Vladimir Putin's government.

The Russian president is going through a time of worsening war due to Kiev's use of drones and missiles with greater range, of domestic production. The main target is the rival's energy system, which sees fuel shortages multiplying across its regions and has had to take rationing measures.

That same Wednesday, Zelenski wanted to reinforce his position before meeting Trump. His forces hit three Russian refineries after focusing attacks on eight Western-sanctioned oil tankers in the Black Sea.

For his part, Putin has intensified air strikes and pressed the front line in Donetsk, in occupied eastern Ukraine. There is a public debate in Russia about the next steps, which includes speculation about a general mobilization or even the use of tactical nuclear weapons, restricted to the battlefield.

Trump also said he would discuss with Zelensky the Ukrainian's most immediate complaint, which is the lack of missiles for Ukraine's anti-aircraft systems. In the two most recent Russian mega-attacks, ballistic models pierced Kiev's defenses without much opposition.

"A little bird told me this, that we're going to give them the right to make [missiles for] Patriots. We're going to talk about it," he said, when asked about licensing production in Europe - not necessarily in Ukraine, although he later indicated the possibility.

Trump called the missiles "defensive, and I like that." This is unlikely to be read like this in Moscow, which until now has counted on the American goodwill in handling the negotiations to end the war.

The president once again said that he believes in a soon end to the conflict, and said that he is much "tougher" with Putin "than I imagined he would be", an assertion that few Europeans would agree with.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, the Republican has cut all military and financial aid to Kiev, passing on the bill to his European allies. But it kept its profits, selling weapons directly to NATO, which then passed them on to the Ukrainians. Now it said it can buy drones from Kiev.

Trump even spoke about the forgotten topic of Ukraine's post-war security guarantees, something that went back and forth to the now deactivated negotiating table.

"Russia respects us a lot, and we will work on some kind of security agreement. If we can make the right agreement, with help from Europe, we will work on some kind of security package," he said. When questioned, he said that this could even include aerial protection over Ukraine, although he backtracked on previous occasions when he mentioned the hypothesis.

The friendly tone of the meeting with the Ukrainian was highlighted even by Trump, who criticized him the first time they met, at the beginning of last year. "It's hard to believe, isn't it?", said the American, who said it was even possible to visit Kiev.

There was even room for war jokes. "Putin said he would love to meet me in Moscow. I don't know if Zelensky would go to Moscow. Maybe so. Would you go to Moscow?" Trump asked. "It's difficult, there are a lot of Ukrainian drones there. It's dangerous," said the Ukrainian, to the laughter of journalists. "Yes, it's difficult to go to Moscow", added the American.

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