"Trump expresses belief in imminent collapse of Ukraine, stating he is 'rescueing' the nation"
U.S. President Donald Trump boasts about "saving" Ukraine, dodging questions about arming the war-torn country in a conversation with The Atlantic on April 28.
Trump sat down with Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, on April 24 for a chat about his first century in office. It's worth noting Goldberg previously exposed top U.S. defense officials discussing war plans via a Signal chat in March.
One of Trump's objectives for his first hundred days was to put an end to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. However, in recent days, the Trump administration has toyed with abandoning the peace talks altogether.
"I'm saving that nation," Trump declared, referring to Ukraine.
"I think that nation will be crushed very shortly. It's a big war machine. ... I think I'm doing a great service to Ukraine. I believe that."
When confronted with the fact that Ukrainians may not share his perspective, Trump reaffirmed his belief that the full-scale invasion wouldn't have happened if he had won the 2020 U.S. election—a claim he often makes when probed about his Ukraine-Russia policy.
Trump also reiterated his threats to abandon the peace process if the upcoming talks don't meet the U.S.'s expectations.
"We'll have to see what happens over the next period of pretty much a week. We're down to final strokes," he said.
"And again, this is Biden's war. I'm not gonna get saddled - I don't wanna be saddled with it. It's a terrible war. Should have never happened. It would've never happened, as sure as you're sitting there."
Trump insisted he was on Ukraine's side but distinguished his support from that of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"I've had a hard time with Zelensky," Trump admitted, bringing up the leaders' infamous Oval Office argument in February.
Trump's comments on Zelensky came two days before the leaders met face-to-face in the Vatican following the funeral of the late Pope Francis. Both sides described the discussion as productive and constructive. Afterward, Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to attack Ukrainian cities.
When asked by Goldberg if continued escalation from Moscow would lead to U.S. weapons being shipped to Kyiv, Trump evaded a direct response, suggesting other forms of pressure on Russia.
"Doesn't have to be weapons," he said.
"There are many forms of weapons. Doesn't have to be weapons with bullets. It can be weapons with sanctions. It can be weapons with banking. It can be many other weapons."
It's essential to note that, as of April 2025, the Trump administration has not approved new weapons deliveries to Ukraine and has frozen aid previously approved during the Biden administration[1][3]. Key developments include:
- No new packages: Discussions about additional military assistance are not occurring in the White House or Congress, according to U.S. lawmakers[1].
- Intelligence-sharing disruptions: The administration temporarily halted intelligence exchanges with Kyiv in early March 2025, impairing Ukraine’s ability to target Russian forces[4].
- During his conversation with The Atlantic on April 24, Trump claimed he was "saving" Ukraine from a potential full-scale invasion.
- Despite Trump's assertions, the Trump administration has recently contemplated abandoning peace talks with Ukraine.
- When asked about the possibility of escalation from Moscow, Trump suggested alternative methods for pressure on Russia other than weapons, such as sanctions and banking measures.
- In April 2025, the Trump administration has not approved new weapons deliveries to Ukraine and has frozen aid previously approved during the Biden administration.
