Former President Donald Trump has dramatically shifted from skepticism to a much tougher stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine—a turnaround that has surprised allies and critics alike. Once a vocal opponent of U.S. military aid to Kyiv and a champion of “America First” noninterventionism, Trump recently asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whether Ukraine could strike deep inside Russian territory—specifically Moscow and St. Petersburg—if supplied with the right weapons.
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly questioned the wisdom of sending billions in U.S. aid overseas, arguing those funds would be better spent at home. Early in his second term, he refused to acknowledge Ukraine’s victimhood, even suggesting Kyiv had provoked the conflict. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned his reluctance and doubts about further military assistance.
That all changed this month. In a surprise announcement, Trump threatened “100 percent secondary tariffs” on any country still trading with Russia if a peace deal wasn’t reached within fifty days. He lambasted Vladimir Putin for spurning ceasefire talks and warned of crippling economic measures to “make them feel the pain.” Simultaneously, he approved a new wave of NATO‑funded weapons shipments to Ukraine—allowing European allies to foot the bill and side‑step direct U.S. expenditure, while still bolstering Kyiv’s defenses.
Most striking was a reported July 4 telephone conversation in which Trump asked Zelenskyy, “Can you hit Moscow? St. Petersburg?” Zelenskyy’s purported reply—“Absolutely, if you give us the weapons, we can”—marked a stark departure from Trump’s previous reluctance to engage. When confronted with the report, Trump backpedaled, insisting days later, “No, he should not target Moscow,” but the episode underscored the dramatic pivot in his approach.
This newfound willingness to pressure Russia through both economic and military means signals a deeper recalibration of Trump’s foreign‑policy outlook. While older voters accustomed to Cold War–era decisiveness may welcome a tougher line, critics warn it risks escalating the conflict and entangling the United States more directly. Whether driven by political calculation, strategic reassessment, or personal conviction, Trump’s Ukraine policy has clearly entered a bold, interventionist chapter—one that may reshape international alliances and raise the stakes in Eastern Europe.