Kremlin Dismisses Ukraine’s Chances of Reclaiming Lost Land

 

A woman walks past a poster promoting military service in the Russian Armed Forces, in the town of Kurchatov in the Kursk Region, Russia.

The Kremlin has rejected the notion that Ukraine can regain territories occupied by Russian forces, calling such expectations a “big mistake.” The statement came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting that Ukraine, with European and NATO support, could eventually restore its original borders.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov insisted that Russia’s economy remains strong enough to sustain its military campaign and dismissed Trump’s characterization of Moscow’s war effort as “aimless.” Peskov argued that the conflict stems from what Russia views as the West’s refusal to address its security concerns, rather than from weakness on Russia’s part.

Trump’s comments, made after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly, marked a notable shift in tone. While Trump has previously suggested Kyiv might need to make concessions, he now claims Ukraine could “fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form.”

The Kremlin’s sharp rebuttal underscores the deep divide between Moscow and Western leaders over the war’s trajectory. For Ukraine, Trump’s words signal renewed political backing, but Russia’s dismissal highlights the entrenched positions that continue to block any path to peace.