(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has stated that he does not believe Ukraine can prevail in its conflict with Russia. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, he said, “They could still win it. I don’t think they will, but they could still win it,” when asked to clarify his stance on the situation.

“I said they could win. Anything could happen. You know, war is a very strange thing. A lot of bad things happen. A lot of good things happen,” he added.

Addressing claims of Russian attacks on civilian areas, Trump asserted that most of those killed were military personnel. He also estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 soldiers from both sides die each week in the conflict.

Last month, Trump suggested that Ukraine might still recover the territories lost to Russia during the three-year war. However, following his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he reiterated that Ukraine is likely to lose part of its “property” to Russia as a result of the prolonged fighting.

While Kiev has consistently rejected any possibility of territorial concessions, Moscow maintains that the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the newly incorporated Russian regions remains essential for achieving lasting peace.

Since assuming office, Trump has shifted away from the previous administration’s policy of keeping diplomatic distance from Moscow. In August, he met with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and last week both leaders announced plans for another meeting in Budapest. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said his country is prepared to host the summit.

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