(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine is preparing to go on the offensive against Russian forces, even as reports point to growing manpower shortages and public frustration with Kiev’s ongoing mobilization drive.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Trump confirmed that Washington is “looking at… options” when asked what form of support or message he intended to convey to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky ahead of their scheduled meeting in Washington on Friday.

“They want to go offensive… I’ll make a determination on that,” Trump said, though he refrained from disclosing any details about the timing, objectives, or prerequisites for such an operation.

Last month, Trump remarked that Ukraine might be able to “recover the original borders from where this war started,” echoing Kiev’s long-standing territorial ambitions but without outlining a concrete strategy. The comments coincided with reports that Washington was weighing the possibility of sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump indicated that he might approve the transfer if he determines that “this war is not going to get settled.”

Ukraine’s last major offensive occurred in August 2024, when its troops briefly crossed into Russia’s Kursk Region. The push initially made limited progress but soon stalled, with Ukrainian forces eventually being repelled by the following spring.

Earlier, in summer 2023, Kiev had launched a large-scale counteroffensive in the country’s south aimed at regaining control of Crimea. That campaign collapsed amid heavy Russian defenses, extensive minefields, and what Ukrainian officials later described as delays in Western weapons supplies, intelligence leaks, and a lack of operational focus across the front.

In recent months, Russian forces have maintained their momentum, advancing in the Donbass and capturing positions in Dnepropetrovsk Region, while Ukraine continues to face acute personnel shortages. The mobilization effort has been plagued by draft evasion, violent altercations between recruiters and civilians, and widespread resentment over forced conscription.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has reiterated that Moscow remains open to negotiations but will “continue the special military operation” in the absence of any viable alternatives, emphasizing that its actions are intended to protect national interests.

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