INTERNACIONAL
Trump ‘dramatically’ changes tune on Ukraine but experts caution Putin is still waiting for action
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President Donald Trump this week shocked the international community when he said he flipped his position on the war in Ukraine and said he thinks Kyiv could re-take all of its occupied land seized by Russia.
In a Tuesday comment on social media, he said, «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.»
«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,» he added. «Why not?»
This position is a stark reversal from where he stood when he first re-entered office and, in an infamous February Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told him he «[didn’t] have the cards» to take on Russia, and repeatedly suggested Kyiv would need to make significant concessions to end the war.
TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY SIGNAL STRONGER TIES AFTER UN MEETING: ‘BETTER RELATIONS THAN BEFORE’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York City on Sept. 23, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«We’re seeing that his approach to Russia’s war on Ukraine has already changed dramatically,» Yuriy Sak, former defense advisor to Zelenskyy, told Fox News Digital. «This change of his approach will hopefully translate into more unity in terms of the Western alliance and their support for Ukraine.»
The response to Trump’s change in attitude was met with mixed responses from top security experts, with some viewing it as a positive shift, while others, like former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman, argued that words alone will have little effect on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
«For all the years I spent trying to see the world through the twisted KGB eyes of Vladimir Putin…he does not care about words,» Hoffman said. «He thinks he can use them against us.
«We did not deter him from threatening Poland, Estonia, Copenhagen and Norway militarily — the United States and NATO did not deter him. He did it,» Hoffman continued, referring to airspace violations in which Russia deployed drones and fighter jets over NATO nations in incidents that have occurred since Trump re-entered the White House.
«He’s trying to show that the United States doesn’t have the throw-weight to deter Russia from threatening NATO members in Eastern Europe,» the Russian security expert argued. «He wants to try to show Ukraine the United States doesn’t have the ability to project power in that part of the world. To show Ukraine ‘you don’t want to rely on the United States, stop fighting, we’re going to beat you anyways, we’re going to tap you out’ — that’s where his strategy is.»
TRUMP MOCKS NATO ALLIES FOR ‘FUNDING THE WAR AGAINST THEMSELVES’ WITH RUSSIAN ENERGY PURCHASES
President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press)
Russia on Wednesday pushed back on Trump’s comments and suggested he was «mistaken» in his assessment of how the war is progressing.
«The dynamics on the front lines speak for themselves,» Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Reuters.
Russia has made few to no major advances on the front lines since early 2024. Though some small advances have been achieved this year, the front lines have remained largely frozen for the last 18 months.
Hoffman argued that if the U.S. wants to see Ukraine make advances, it needs to lift all strike restrictions it has in place and immediately enforce secondary sanctions, rather than wait on Europe to simultaneously follow suit, as they will take months to take a toll on Russia’s war chest.
Washington also should consider strong-arming NATO allies, including Germany to provide Ukraine with long-range strike missiles, and Denmark to close the Danish Strait to Russia’s shadow fleet, as well as get Trump allies, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to stop buying Russian oil.
While Hoffman argued there is more to be done before Putin actually starts to re-evaluate his war operations in Ukraine, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said the president’s position reversal was «very encouraging.»
«I completely agree with the statement that, definitely, Ukraine has a right and a chance, with our full support, to go back to regain its original borders, its internationally recognized borders,» she told Fox News Digital. «Because why not?»
Sakaliene echoed Hoffman and said Ukraine needs the proper support to fully counter Russia, and without more U.S. and NATO support, not only will Ukraine be unable to make advances on the battlefield, Russia will continue to threaten NATO — increasing the risk of a massive international war.
RUSSIA SHIFTS FROM TALK TO ACTION, TARGETING NATO HOMELAND AMID FEARS OF GLOBAL WAR
A serviceman of 24th Mechanized brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2s5 «Hyacinth-s» self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine Nov. 18, 2024. (Oleg Petrasiuk/Press Service of the 24th King Danylo Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout via REUTERS )
«The only obstacle would be our fear — our inability to defend the rules of the world that we live in,» she said. «The recent series of incidents, both drone related in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and also related to the incursion into our air space by Russian fighter jets, demonstrate again and again that Russia is coloring outside the lines.
«It’s going to continue [and] it’s going to escalate, because they feel that they are unpunishable, because they feel that they are untouchable, and that means that they are happily challenging NATO as well,» Sakaliene said.
All three security experts agreed that the U.S.’s role in countering Putin is «critical» and the argument that the U.S. should take a backseat to Europe weakens the united front necessary to stop Russia.
«The current world security architecture is built around the axis of the United States,» Sakaliene said, arguing that the system shouldn’t be exploited, but supported by Europe’s bolstering of its own military capabilities. «But that also means that the voice of the United States was and is still vital for certain decisions related to a security of a democratic world.»
«And that the United States’ voice is the one that Russia hears the loudest,» she said.
Trump on Tuesday suggested Ukraine should not only retake the land seized by Russia, but «maybe even go further than that.»
Sak pushed back on this and said Ukraine is viewing the situation through a «realistic» lens.
«We’ve never had the ambition to conquer Russian territory. We don’t need it,» Sak said. «We just want them out of our land.
«We understand that at this stage, even this objective is not possible to achieve through military means,» he continued. «It will have to be a mixture of diplomatic means, and it probably will take a long time.»
Ultimately, Ukraine viewed Trump’s comments not as a signal that the U.S. is going to take immediate action, but rather as a «confirmation» that Trump is now fully on board with backing Ukraine, and aligning itself with the NATO alliance.
Infographic with a map of Ukraine locating territories claimed by Russia (Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea, which was annexed in 2014), as well as Russian territorial advances, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and AEI’s Critical Threats Project, as of Aug. 17, 2025. (Guillermo Rivas Pacheco,Jean-Michel Cornu/AFP via Getty Images)
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«Standing shoulder to shoulder with the European partners of Ukraine…this alone represents a big threat to Russia,» Sak argued. «They know it, and this, once again, sends them a message that this is an unwinnable war for them.
«Sooner or later, when we cripple their economy in a combination of sanctions plus the deep strike drones that we carry out on a daily basis, Russia will be in a position that, despite their willingness to fight this war and continue to cause these crimes of aggression, it will not just be able to do so purely for economic reasons,» Sak added.
donald trump,ukraine,russia,nato,vladimir putin,volodymyr zelenskyy,world,europe
INTERNACIONAL
Trump signs executive order overhauling mail-in voting in major election integrity push
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President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive order targeting mail-in voting and voter eligibility, calling the move a major step toward restoring confidence in U.S. elections.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the order is focused on «voter integrity and Mail-In ballots» and on «stopping the massive cheating that’s gone on.»
«We’re going to be signing an executive order,» Trump said. «It’s, I believe it’s foolproof… I think it’s very obvious what’s said.»
The order directs federal agencies to work with states to compile lists of eligible voters using federal citizenship and identity data, while also instructing the U.S. Postal Service to develop new safeguards for mail-in ballots, including barcode tracking and verification measures.
TRUMP REVEALS TOP ISSUES GOP SHOULD FOCUS ON TO SECURE MIDTERMS VICTORY: ‘I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT’
President Donald Trump signs an executive order addressing mail-in ballots in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, in Washington, D.C. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Under the order, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) working with the Social Security Administration and other federal databases, will create and share «State Citizenship Lists» with state election officials.
The lists are intended to identify individuals confirmed to be U.S. citizens who will be at least 18 years old by the time of a federal election and who reside in that state.
Those lists are to be updated and transmitted to states ahead of federal elections, according to the order.
The order also directs the attorney general to prioritize investigations and potential prosecutions involving officials or others who issue ballots to individuals not eligible to vote in federal elections, as well as those involved in the «printing, production, shipment, or distribution of ballots» to ineligible voters.
SCOTUS CONSERVATIVES SIGNAL READINESS TO CURB LATE-ARRIVING MAIL BALLOTS
President Donald Trump addresses members of the assembled media after signing an executive order, Tuesday, in the Oval Office. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
On mail ballots, the executive order calls on the postmaster general to initiate a rule-making process within 60 days. Proposed changes include requiring ballots to be clearly marked as official election mail, including a unique Intelligent Mail barcode or similar tracking technology, and undergoing Postal Service design review.
The order also outlines a system under which states would notify USPS if they plan to use mail-in or absentee ballots and provide lists of eligible voters, allowing the Postal Service to maintain participation records tied to ballot distribution.
Trump framed the changes as a direct response to what he described as longstanding vulnerabilities in voting by mail.
NOEM BACKS SAVE AMERICA ACT, SLAMS ‘RADICAL LEFT’ OPPOSITION TO VOTER IDS AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, left, looks on as President Donald Trump prepares to sign an executive order addressing mail-in voting. ( Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
«The cheating on mail-in voting is legendary,» he said. «It’s horrible what’s going on.»
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration is pushing for a system that ties each ballot to a trackable envelope.
«If you voted by mail, you will have it on the envelope,» Lutnick said. «There’ll be a million envelopes… and you’ll be able to know exactly correctly, that citizens voted.»
Trump said additional election-related measures, including voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, are also under consideration.
«We’d like to have voter ID, we’d like to have proof of citizenship… we’re working on that,» he said.
He also argued that opposition to such measures is politically motivated.
«The only people that don’t want to do voter ID are people that cheat,» Trump said.
Trump acknowledged the order could face legal challenges but said he believes it will withstand them.
«I don’t know how it can be challenged,» Trump said after signing the order. «You may find a rogue judge… but that’s the only way that could be changed.»
The executive order states that voting in federal elections is reserved «exclusively for citizens of the United States» and argues that additional safeguards are necessary to «maintain public confidence in election outcomes.» It also says that ballot identifiers such as barcodes can help ensure that only eligible voters receive and cast ballots.
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Within minutes of Trump signing the order, top elections officials in Oregon and Arizona pledged to sue, arguing the president was illegally encroaching on states’ authority to run elections, according to The Associated Press.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the state’s vote-by-mail system, originally designed by Republicans, is now used by about 80% of voters.
Arizona does not need the federal government to determine voter eligibility, and federal data is not always reliable, Fontes said.
Trump cast the issue in much broader terms.
«If you don’t have honest voting,» he said, «you can’t have really a nation.»
voting, donald trump, elections, white house, politics
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More key European allies are restricting U.S. military access as the Trump administration presses ahead with its war against Iran, with both France and Spain moving to block U.S.-linked aircraft from using their airspace or bases.
France has refused overflight for planes carrying U.S. military supplies to Israel, according to President Donald Trump, marking a rare disruption to routine military coordination between Washington and key European allies.
Their refusals carry operational weight because U.S. bases in Europe are «essential» for supporting Middle East operations, acting as critical staging and transit hubs for military aircraft.
MULTIPLE ALLIES DECLINE US CALLS FOR STRAIT OF HORMUZ SUPPORT AMID RISING MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS
The move marks the latest sign of growing friction between the United States and European allies as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on NATO partners to support operations tied to the war with Iran.
President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they pose for a photo. (Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Reuters)
According to a Tuesday Reuters report, Italy denied permission for U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily before heading to the Middle East, saying Washington had not sought prior authorization from Rome.
An Italian government statement pushed back on reports of a rupture, saying: «With reference to media reports regarding the use of military bases, the government reiterates that Italy acts in full compliance with existing international agreements and with the policy guidelines set out by the government to parliament.»
«Relations with the United States, in particular, are solid and based on full and loyal cooperation,» the statement added.
A senior U.S. official reinforced Italy’s claim, telling Fox News Digital, «This is false. Italy is currently supportive in providing access, basing and overflight for U.S. forces.»
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. (Darko Bandic/The Associated Press )
Spain on Monday said it had closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in strikes, going further than its earlier refusal to allow the use of jointly operated bases. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been among the most vocal critics of the U.S. and Israeli campaign.
In remarks before parliament Tuesday, Spain’s defense minister said the government had «prohibited the use of the bases of Rota and Morón» and did not grant flight authorizations «to support operations in Iran.»
The minister stressed the decision was limited specifically to operations linked to Iran and did not signal a broader break with NATO or the United States.
John Hemmings, director of the National Security Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based foreign policy think tank, told Fox News Digital the decision reflects deeper tensions.
«If one looks at Spain’s refusal to allow U.S. overflight over its airspace or U.S. bases,» Hemmings said, «one could argue it’s a U.S.-Spanish issue. The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, a socialist, has no love lost for the MAGA movement. But Italy’s refusal comes after Poland’s refusal to allow a U.S. Patriot anti-missile battery to be redeployed and looks like the U.S. wheels are wobbling — if not coming off.»
Trump on Tuesday escalated his criticism of allies in a series of posts on Truth Social, singling out France and the United Kingdom, although the United Kingdom has continued to allow U.S. aircraft to operate from its territory, including bomber and refueling missions tied to Middle East operations.
TRUMP RATES MACRON ‘AN 8’ AS FRANCE AND US SPLIT OVER MIDDLE EAST STRATEGY
«France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!,» President Donald Trump wrote on social media. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
«The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory,» Trump wrote.
«France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran,’ who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!,» he added.
A source in the French presidency, the Élysée Palace, told Fox News Digital, «We are surprised by this tweet. France has not changed its position since the first day, and we confirm this decision, which is consistent with the French position since the beginning of the conflict.»
The Israeli Ministry of Defense said Tuesday it is moving to reduce defense procurement from France to zero, replacing it with domestic production or purchases from other allied countries. The ministry also said it has suspended plans for further professional engagement with the French military, including canceling meetings with France’s defense leadership.
In another post on Tuesday, Trump criticized the U.K. while urging allies to take action in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route disrupted during the conflict.
«All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you,» Trump wrote.
«Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.»
«You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!»
TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY SHOWCASES ‘DOCTRINE OF UNPREDICTABILITY’ AMID STRIKE THREATS AND SUDDEN PAUSE
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria Starmer at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 28, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
War Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that message during a press briefing Tuesday.
«There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,» he said. «It’s not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.»
NATO acknowledged the growing strain, pointing to remarks by Secretary-General Mark Rutte from a March 26 press conference.
«What I’ve been seeing is some frustration with him (Trump), about the Europeans needing to take time to react to his request, when it comes to this question of making sure that sea lanes are open,» Rutte said.
«There is a reason for that … the U.S. was not able to consult with allies because they wanted to keep the campaign secret,» he said. «But that also had the disadvantage that it takes time for the Europeans to get organized.»
Rutte added that more than 30 countries have since joined discussions on securing maritime routes, «exactly also to the request of President Trump.»
Hemmings warned the fallout could have broader strategic consequences.
«There is something deeper here, though, and that is that there is a growing transatlantic rift between right-leaning populists and left-leaning populists,» he said. «The fact is that the U.S. and many Western European countries are not only split over NATO spending and trade; they are split ideologically.»
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NATO leaders pose in this shot taken in June. (Claudia Greco/Reuters)
«This should worry planners at the Pentagon and at NATO headquarters in Brussels,» he said. «Despite recent changes in U.S. force structure in Europe, changes have been incremental and carefully broadcast. The U.S. and Europe still need each other badly for defense-industrial cooperation, for helping bring Ukraine to victory, and for deterring their mutual adversaries.»
Fox News Digital also reached out to Italy and the Pentagon but did not receive responses in time for publication.
war with iran, nato, europe, italy, spain, donald trump
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