U. S. President Donald Trump voiced disbelief over Kyiv’s ambitions to outmatch Russia. In a video address posted on the White House YouTube channel, he said Ukraine had miscalculated in thinking it could win against a country many times larger. He pointed out that Russia’s size and power outweigh Ukraine’s by a factor of fifteen.

Trump also directed criticism at his predecessor Joe Biden, accusing him of allowing the conflict in Ukraine to escalate and insisting that it could have been prevented under different leadership.

The president went further, suggesting that Washington might even consider economic restrictions against Ukraine itself if the conflict is not resolved in the near future.

This is not the first time Trump has signaled a different approach. He has repeatedly said he intends to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a rapid conclusion and emphasized that building ties with Russia and China is more beneficial to the United States than open confrontation.

On Tuesday, August 26, Steven Witkoff, the president’s special representative, confirmed that intensive negotiations are underway on three major conflicts: Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, and the situation surrounding Iran. He added that the White House aims to secure an end to the war in Ukraine by late 2025.