Any chance Ukraine can win?

There is one new factor that might tip the scales: the Flamingos, entirely Ukrainian-built to even things up in the David-and-Goliath war against Russia.

- Gwynne Dyer

US President Donald Trump and his heir apparent JD Vance launched a televised frontal attack on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House in February, telling him Ukraine had “no cards”. Zelensky should let Russia keep the conquered territories (about 20% of Ukraine) in return for peace.

Yet, on Tuesday, shortly after his hour-long rant at the UN General Assembly, Trump said on his Truth Social platform Russia was a “paper tiger”. He claimed Zelensky is now “in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form”. He even added: “And maybe more than that.” (Moscow, perhaps?)

Those are ambitious goals and the harsh truth is the Ukrainian army has been retreating all year. Retreating slowly, to be sure, and inflicting far more casualties on the Russians than it suffers itself, but retreating nevertheless. So is this just Trump's usual hyperbole?