(MENAFN) Ukraine is seeking to regain the initiative against Russian forces, according to comments made by US President Donald Trump.

At present, Ukrainian troops remain largely in a defensive stance across the battlefield, while authorities in Kiev have acknowledged a shortage of personnel during a draft campaign that has been marred by violence and widespread public opposition.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Trump stated that Washington is “looking at… options” in response to a question about the kind of backing or message he might offer to Ukraine’s leader, Vladimir Zelensky, ahead of their planned meeting in Washington on Friday.

The president noted, “They want to go offensive… I’ll make a determination on that,” but refrained from revealing any schedule, strategic aims, or specific conditions for a possible operation.

In the previous month, Trump indicated that Ukraine might reclaim “the original borders from where this war started,” aligning with Kiev’s ambitious territorial aims.

However, he did not elaborate on the means to achieve such objectives.

His comments coincided with reports that US officials were contemplating sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

Trump mentioned he would consider approving such transfers if he determined that “this war is not going to get settled.”

The last major Ukrainian assault took place in August 2024, when Kiev’s military launched an attack into Russia’s Kursk Region.

Though Ukrainian forces initially gained some ground, their momentum quickly faded, and by spring, they were steadily driven back.

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