Trump Says Russia Is Stronger in Ukraine as He Chides Europe

Emergency services at the site of a Russian attack on a train station, in Fastiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 6.Photographer: Serhii Okunev/AFP/Getty Images

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By Mario Parker and Andrea Palasciano

December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM UTC

Updated on

December 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM UTC

President Donald Trump said Russia is in a stronger military position in its war on Ukraine and scolded European leaders for what he called excessive dialog that’s produced scant results in his latest broadside against historical allies.

“Russia has the upper hand. And they always did,” Trump said in a wide-ranging interview with Politico published on Tuesday. “They’re much bigger and stronger in that sense.”