Trump impressed by Ukraine's strike power while Russia grows war fatigue — WSJ
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump is impressed by Ukraine’s strike capabilities, which have led him to change his views on the country for the better, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Last year, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he had no cards. However, at the NATO summit on Wednesday, during a meeting with the Ukrainian leader, he praised Kyiv’s ingenuity and the country’s capabilities in the field of long-range drones.
According to two US officials familiar with the situation, Trump is being briefed on US intelligence reports detailing Ukraine’s new strike capabilities, and he is impressed by them.
At the same time, against the backdrop of Ukrainian attacks, the Russian public is increasingly calling for an end to the war. Officials say these assessments explain why Trump has begun speaking more positively about Ukraine than he did in 2025.
The agency also notes that Vladimir Putin continues to publicly reiterate his maximalist military goals, including territorial concessions from Ukraine and the restoration of Moscow’s influence within the country.
However, US officials hope that Putin may be open to a deal as early as the end of this year that would end the war on terms acceptable to Kyiv. At the same time, others argue that Putin will never agree to such terms.
Trump's Ukraine position
During a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 8, Donald Trump stated that the US would grant Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot missiles. He also commented on Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russia, calling them an escalation that could lead to the end of the war.
According to US State Department spokesperson Ian Bateson, the meeting in Ankara marked a turning point in relations between Kyiv and Washington, and the success of Ukrainian drones in Russia has opened up new opportunities for diplomacy.
In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhii Kyslytsia said that Trump and his administration’s attitude toward Ukraine had improved significantly in recent times. According to him, Americans support the victors, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are demonstrating successful results on the battlefield and in strikes against Russia.
