Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently expressed approval of President Trump’s evolving view on the war between Russia and Ukraine during a segment on MSNBC. She particularly noted his remarks about Ukraine’s potential to reclaim territory after more than three years of conflict, as detailed in a Truth Social post he made.
Earlier on the same day, while attending the UN General Assembly, Trump referred to Russia as a “paper tiger,” a comment that was promptly dismissed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
In the past, Trump has suggested that Ukraine might need to concede some territory to bring an end to the conflict, which has seen Russia occupying regions like Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea since its annexation in 2014.
Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump commented that NATO allies should consider taking action against Russian aircraft in their airspace.
In her Wednesday interview, Clinton asserted that Trump seems to recognize that Putin does not respond well to mere words. “You need to show strength,” she emphasized. She went on to express that Trump’s comments indicate a belief that with sufficient support, Ukraine could withstand and even push back against Russian forces, which she views as posing significant threats to Europe and the U.S.
These recent statements from Trump stand in contrast to his earlier positions since the invasion in February 2022. He claimed during his 2024 campaign that he could resolve the conflict in just 24 hours, referencing his rapport with Putin, although he later called that claim “a bit ironic.”
Back in February, Trump and Vice President Vance engaged in a heated exchange with Zelensky at the Oval Office, where Trump stated that Ukraine hadn’t won the war. He described Ukraine as facing a “big problem.”
There was talk of a plan that would allow future shares of Ukrainian minerals to be allocated to the U.S. in exchange for financial support against Russia, which eventually materialized in April.
Despite these efforts, Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine continues unabated. Earlier this month, Trump admitted he was displeased with the situation overall. At a summit with Putin in Anchorage last month, Trump left without a ceasefire agreement, labeling the meeting as “very productive,” though Putin hinted at needing to address the root causes of the conflict.
Following that, Trump told Fox News that he believed peace could ultimately be brokered by Zelensky, although there’s been little progress on a face-to-face meeting involving Trump, Zelensky, and Putin since then.
Clinton, who lost to Trump in the 2016 election, remarked previously that she would nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize if he were able to resolve the war. She noted that it would require recognizing Ukraine’s situation and addressing Putin’s broader ambitions while still advocating for a ceasefire.
“If President Trump managed to be that architect of peace, I would indeed support his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize,” she remarked.
