Trump at the United Nations
US President Donald Trump is met with a crowd of reporters at the United Nations. “What the is message you’re bringing?” one shouts. It’s something the world is wondering as Trump prepares to address this year’s general assembly. Many world leaders will do so, but few are as powerful or unpredictable.
The answer is a mix: in about an hour-long speech, he attacked immigration in Europe, called green energy a con job, credited himself with stopping wars, questioned the very point of the UN, and more. Unlike his predecessor Joe Biden, he did not discuss Taiwan. And even China only got a few mentions—for buying Russian oil and making wind turbines.
One thing definitely on Trump’s mind though, is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And after largely inconclusive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he says the US is ready to put more pressure on Moscow—and that he expects Europe to chip in, particularly by stopping imports of Russian energy.
Donald Trump (US PRESIDENT):
In the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs, which would stop the bloodshed, I believe very quickly, but for those tariffs to be effective, European nations - all of you gathered here right now would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures.
Trump’s stance on the Ukraine war and NATO’s role in it looks to have shifted markedly. After his UN speech, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Before the meeting, the previously NATO-skeptic Trump even told reporters he’s now strongly behind the alliance, especially as Russian aircraft violate allies’ airspace.
REPORTER:
(Do you think NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace?)
Donald Trump (US PRESIDENT):
Yes, I do.
And that’s just the start of an apparent about-face. Trump once said Ukraine might have to give up territory to Russia to end the war. But in a social media post, he said Russia looks like a paper tiger and suggested that Ukraine, with support, can get back to its pre-war borders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy didn’t give much away about what the two discussed in their meeting, but in an exchange with a reporter, he had this to say about Trump.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT):
I said it from the first second of our, today's meeting, I will not share all the details.
REPORTER:
(But from your perspective, is it a game changer that he now believes, that President Trump now believes, that the...?)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT):
Trump is a game-changer by himself.
Trump has taken a special interest in ending the three-year Russia-Ukraine War. And as of Tuesday, it seems like he’s trying out a new tactic to get the job done.
Howard Chang and John Van Trieste for TaiwanPlus.
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