Earlier this month, in a wide-ranging interview with U.S. outlet POLITICO, former U.S. President Donald Trump argued that Russia holds the "upper hand" in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, crediting Ukrainian forces for their bravery but asserting that "at some point, size will win."
Trump also challenged the notion that Ukraine ever received a firm promise of NATO membership. He said that calendars before Vladimir Putin’s rise already featured an understanding that Kyiv would remain outside the alliance.
Reflecting on a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin, Trump recalled: "Zelenskyy first went in and first met Putin, he said I want two things. I want Crimea back and we're gonna be a member of NATO. He didn't say it in a very nice way either."
Trump’s comments revisit a long-standing debate over NATO enlargement and its role in European security. His emphasis on Russia’s size over strategy raises questions about how much weight military capacity should carry in modern conflicts.
As policymakers and analysts digest these remarks, the conversation about military capacity versus diplomatic guarantees will shape global security debates in the months ahead.
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Trump says Russia-Ukraine conflict about 'size,' denies NATO pledge
cgtn.com
