Trump said Ukraine had 'no cards.' Then Kyiv escalated strikes into Russia.
After Trump told Zelenskyy Ukraine was losing, Kyiv ramped up drone and missile attacks deep inside Russia, shifting the war narrative.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 6 items across 4 sources · 3h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
In February 2025, President Trump told Ukrainian President Zelenskyy that Ukraine was "not winning" and had "no cards" in its war against Russia, leading to a public confrontation and brief suspension of U.S. intelligence sharing. However, in the months that followed, Ukraine launched an escalating campaign of long-range strikes into Russia, destroying or damaging hundreds of millions of dollars in military aircraft and infrastructure, and by July, Trump acknowledged Zelenskyy had "been very effective." The strikes have shifted how Washington views Ukraine's prospects, though it remains unclear whether they can push Russia toward negotiations.
- Trump's February 2025 dismissal of Ukraine as a lost cause contrasts sharply with his July 2026 acknowledgment that Zelenskyy has been 'very effective,' driven by Ukraine's escalating strike campaign.
- Ukraine has tripled long-range strikes since January 2026, targeting military aircraft, oil infrastructure, and supply lines deep inside Russia, causing fuel shortages and military embarrassment.
- The strikes have shifted the narrative in Washington about Ukraine's viability, though success ultimately depends on whether Ukraine can inflict enough economic and military damage to push Russia toward negotiations.
- Ukraine faces critical vulnerabilities: civilian casualties remain high (1,396 killed in first six months of 2026), and shortages of American Patriot air defense missiles limit its ability to defend against Russian counterstrikes.
How it unfolded
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Associated Press publishes comprehensive coverage of Ukraine's escalating strike campaign, showing how Kyiv shifted the narrative of the war despite ongoing challenges in air defense due to Patriot missile shortages.
- 6 weeks quiet
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At a NATO summit in July 2026, Trump tells Zelenskyy the Ukrainian leader has 'been very effective' in the war and says they have 'developed a good relationship,' a sharp reversal from his February criticism.
“You've been very effective in the war. We've actually developed a good relationship.”
President Donald Trump · Bluesky ↗ -
Ukraine launched three times as many long-range strikes in July 2026 as it did in January, according to conflict monitor ACLED, with most strikes using weapons with less than 200-kilometer range.
- 56 weeks quiet
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Months after Trump's remarks, Ukraine attacks Russian military aircraft with smuggled drones, destroying or damaging planes worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Ukrainian drone strikes send plumes of smoke over St. Petersburg shortly before an international economic forum, causing Russian authorities to scale down May 9 military parade and leading to wider concern over Ukraine's attack capabilities.
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Strikes on Russian oil refineries cause a summer fuel shortage across Russia.
- 17 weeks quiet
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In an Oval Office meeting with media present, President Trump tells Ukrainian President Zelenskyy that Ukraine is 'not winning' and doesn't 'have the cards.' The Ukrainian delegation is asked to leave, and the U.S. briefly suspends intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
“Your country is in big trouble. You're not winning. You don't have the cards.”
President Donald Trump · Bluesky ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“Your country is in big trouble. You're not winning. You don't have the cards.”
President Donald Trump, U.S. President · Associated Press ↗ · Jan 31
“You've been very effective in the war. We've actually developed a good relationship.”
President Donald Trump, U.S. President · Associated Press ↗ · Jun 30
“Logically, above a certain threshold, it does work but whether they can reach that threshold is an interesting question.”
Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow, RUSI think tank · Associated Press ↗
“Ukraine's strikes are aimed at undermining the idea that Russia can afford to 'just let this roll.'”
Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow, RUSI think tank · Associated Press ↗
Voices from the web unedited
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U.S. President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy he had 'no cards' in the war against Moscow's invasion. Then Kyiv took the fight to Russia.
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From AP: Trump told Zelenskyy he didn't 'have the cards.' Then Ukraine took the war to Russia https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=gQNIKM6vrq I&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon * VSN-GDPM c1996 # news # SupportIndependentMedia # vsn
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https://www. europesays.com/3187927/ Trump told Ukraine it had no cards. Then Kyiv took the war to Russia # DonaldTrump # RussiaUkraineWar # Ukraine # UkraineLongRangeStrikes # UkraineStrikesInRussia # VolodymyrZelenskyy