【By Observer Net, Chen Sijia】On September 23 local time, US President Trump posted on his self-created social platform "Truth Social" that he now believes that with the support of the EU and NATO, Ukraine has the potential to "regain all its territories and restore the borders to their original state." Some Western politicians welcomed Trump's remarks, calling it a "major shift" in Trump's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, Reuters reported on the 24th that it remains unclear whether the U.S. government's policy will change. On the issue of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump still maintains strategic ambiguity. In the view of some analysts, although Trump seems to have changed his tone, he is actually still trying to keep the U.S. away from the conflict and shift the responsibility of not being able to resolve the Ukraine conflict entirely onto Europe.

Trump said on "Truth Social" that he understands the military and economic situation of Ukraine and Russia, and believes that the conflict, which has lasted more than three and a half years, has put Russia into an "economic困境". With the financial support of the EU and the military aid from NATO, plus time and patience, "restoring the borders to what they were before the conflict began is a completely feasible option."

Trump did not announce new military or financial assistance to Ukraine, but he stated that the U.S. would continue to provide weapons to NATO, and NATO could use these weapons on its own.

Local time on September 23, Trump met with Zelenskyy, Visual China

Regarding Trump's comments, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said he considered it a "positive signal." Zelenskyy told Fox News in an interview that he believed Trump's position had undergone a "major shift," and that it "could help end the conflict."

A spokesperson for the German government said that Trump's comments gave Germany hope to discuss implementing harsher sanctions against Russia. The spokesperson said, "The tone of (Trump's comments) aligns with the political goals of the German government. For a long time, the German government has been committed to ensuring that the West continues to increase pressure on Russia."

But in the view of some analysts, although Trump seems to have changed his stance, his actual motivation is still to "avoid responsibility."

Neil Melvin, Director of International Security at the Royal United Services Institute in the UK, said, "Trump acknowledges that the conflict is more complex, and he obviously feels disappointed with (Russian President) Putin. So I think his statement might be a success for Ukrainian and European diplomacy."

However, Melvin pointed out that Trump still maintains strategic ambiguity on the issue of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, encouraging Ukraine without promising U.S. support. "So, his narrative has changed, but he seems to still focus on keeping the U.S. away from leading the conflict. He has always tried to shift the responsibility back to Europe," he said.

He said that Trump's attitude could change again, "I think we are only one phone call from Putin away from a change. Fundamentally, the way the Trump administration handled things in its first eight months has damaged the trust of Europe, and this trust cannot be restored."

Jaroslava Barbieri, a researcher at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in the UK, believes that Trump seems to be disappointed with Russia, but he is still looking for excuses to shift the blame to Russia and Europe to maintain the image of a "peace mediator." "In this way, if the Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved, it won't be his fault."

Two European officials also told Reuters that they believe Trump was implying that Europe should take responsibility for aiding Ukraine. A Western European official said, "It seems like he's saying goodbye, doesn't it? But tomorrow, the situation may change again. Regardless, our situation is clear, and we know what to do."

An official from an Eastern European country said that Trump's comments on Ukraine mean, "he is starting to step back, sending out the message that 'this is a European problem.'"

Regarding the situation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said on the 24th that Putin is still willing to meet with Zelenskyy, but such a meeting would be meaningless if no preparations are made. He warned that the frontline situation shows that those who refuse to negotiate now will find themselves in a worse situation tomorrow and the day after. He called the idea that Ukraine can reclaim all its territory a "serious miscalculation."

Regarding the communication between U.S. and Russian leaders, Peskov said that there are currently no plans for Putin and Trump to speak, but both sides could arrange a call at any time. He said that Trump continues to show a willingness to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the Russian side welcomes this.

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