On September 23 and 24, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly in New York became the epicenter of a whirlwind of political statements, diplomatic maneuvering, and ideological clashes, all magnified by the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump. Over two days, Trump’s speeches and meetings marked a dramatic pivot in U.S. foreign policy rhetoric, especially regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, the future of European migration, and the global climate agenda. The reverberations were immediate—sparking responses from allies, adversaries, and even those caught somewhere in between.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emerged from a high-profile meeting with Trump on September 23 with words of praise, describing their encounter as "productive" and expressing gratitude for what he called Trump’s “strong cooperation” with Ukraine. According to ABC News, Zelenskyy posted on Telegram, "The president clearly understands the situation and is well informed about all aspects of this war. We highly appreciate his determination to help end this war."
This sense of optimism among Ukrainian officials was fueled by Trump’s surprise statement on social media, where he declared, “After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.” It was a marked departure from his earlier skepticism about Ukraine’s ability to reclaim its territory and his past suggestions that Kyiv might need to cede land to Russia to achieve peace.
Trump’s post went further, stating, “With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not?” He characterized Russia’s military campaign as “aimless,” asserting, “Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years, a war that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win,” and described Moscow as a “paper tiger.”
The Kremlin was quick to respond. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, rejected Trump’s assessment, telling the RBC news agency, “Russia is not a tiger; Russia is more closely associated with a bear. There are no paper bears. Russia is a real bear.” Peskov also dismissed claims that Russia’s economy was faltering, insisting, “Let’s not forget that the world has entered a stage of completely unpredictable macroeconomic conditions. We are continuing our special military operation to protect our interests and achieve the goals set by President Putin. We have no alternative.”
Despite the positive signals from Trump, Ukrainian officials urged caution. Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Ukraine’s parliament and chair of its foreign affairs committee, told ABC News, “Trump’s statement implies that the U.S. will continue to sell weapons to the European and NATO countries for Ukraine. And also it can be inferred from this statement that Ukraine won’t be restricted in the use of American weaponry in the territory of Russia.” However, Merezhko added, “Knowing how often Trump might change his stance, we should be cautiously optimistic. What matters are his actions, concrete steps to help Ukraine, not only rhetoric, however good it might be.”
Not all Ukrainian voices were convinced. Opposition parliamentarian Oleksiy Goncharenko criticized Trump’s statement as insufficient, writing on Telegram, “Trump’s statement is not about Ukraine’s victory, it is about washing hands of the war. He directly says: ‘You deal with the EU there. I hope you succeed. Good luck to everyone!’” Goncharenko warned that Ukraine risked a costly “war of attrition,” and cautioned, “The reality is that we are neither losing nor winning.”
Trump’s pivot on Ukraine was only part of a broader, combative message delivered to the UN and the world. In a lengthy address to the General Assembly, Trump lambasted the United Nations itself, questioned its purpose, and doubled down on his “America First” agenda. He claimed credit for ending seven global conflicts and sharply criticized unchecked migration, saying, “When your prisons are filled with so-called asylum-seekers … it’s time to end the failed experiment of open borders. You have to end it now. I can tell you. I’m really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.”
According to reports from Nexstar Media and other outlets, Trump’s speech was peppered with stark warnings to Europe. He cited crime statistics, stating, “In Greece, foreigners make up 54% of the prison population; in Germany 50%; in Switzerland 72%.” He argued that “the UN funds an assault on Western nations and their borders,” and called for an immediate end to open borders, warning, “Your countries are going to ruin if you don’t act.”
Trump’s criticisms extended to specific leaders and policies. He singled out London Mayor Sadiq Khan, warning that uncontrolled immigration had “radically changed” the city and raising alarms about the implementation of Sharia law. He also lambasted European green energy initiatives, labeling climate change “the greatest hoax” and describing green policies as “a path to bankruptcy.”
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, addressing the General Assembly the same day, offered a rare note of European support for Trump’s views. Nawrocki said, “Yes, I agree with President Donald Trump that in recent years, what we as Poles have warned against, Europe has descended into ideological madness, which led to bad decisions regarding migration as well as green madness and the Green Deal, which are destroying industry as well as agriculture.” Nawrocki recalled that both Poland and Trump had warned Western Europe about the dangers of financing Russia through energy purchases, and he touted Poland’s decision to halt imports of Russian gas and oil as a model for others.
Poland’s relationship with the U.S. was further cemented earlier in September, when Nawrocki visited Trump at the White House and received assurances that U.S. troops would remain in Poland. The country has become a model NATO ally in Washington’s eyes, boasting the alliance’s highest defense spending at 4.5% of GDP and signing major contracts for U.S. military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets, Abrams tanks, Apache and Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS rocket launchers, and Patriot missile defense systems.
Back in Washington, domestic political tensions simmered as Trump canceled a White House meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries over funding negotiations, sparking accusations from Jeffries that Trump had “chickened out” of government shutdown talks.
As the UN meetings continued, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a sign that—despite the fiery rhetoric—diplomatic channels between Russia and the U.S. remained open, at least for now.
The events at the 2025 General Assembly laid bare the deep divides—between East and West, between allies and adversaries, and even within Western alliances themselves. For Ukraine, the hope is that words will translate into action. For Europe, Trump’s warnings have found at least one prominent supporter. And for the world, the debates over borders, identity, and the future of international cooperation remain as unsettled—and as urgent—as ever.