Trump Claims Talks with Russia Could Bring Change
Donald Trump revealed that his administration held “serious” discussions with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict. He suggested significant progress could come from further talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We will be speaking, and I believe something significant will happen,” Trump said at the White House. He emphasized his goal to end the war, claiming it would not have started under his leadership. However, Trump did not clarify which US officials had direct contact with Russian representatives. When asked if he spoke with Putin personally, he refused to confirm.
Throughout his statements, Trump repeatedly insisted that the war would not have escalated if he had been president. His remarks come despite the fact that during his presidency, fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine between Kyiv’s forces and Moscow-backed separatists. That conflict preceded Putin’s large-scale troop deployment in 2022.
Trump Criticizes Zelenskyy and Biden’s Ukraine Policy
Since returning to political life, Trump has openly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He suggested that Zelenskyy should have reached an agreement with Putin to avoid conflict. In a January interview with Fox News, Trump mocked Zelenskyy for being “brave” while relying heavily on US support.
“They were brave, but we gave them billions of dollars,” Trump commented, referring to the US military and economic aid. Since February 2022, the US has provided Ukraine with over $65 billion in support, accounting for about 40% of its military needs.
Meanwhile, Putin praised Trump in a recent interview, calling him a “clever and pragmatic man” who focuses on American interests. Putin described their relationship as “business-like, pragmatic, but also trusting.” He further stated that if Trump had remained president, the Ukraine crisis could have been avoided. Putin’s comments also reflected his endorsement of Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was stolen.
However, numerous courts, election officials, and even Trump’s former attorney general have dismissed those fraud allegations as baseless. Despite this, Trump has made the Ukraine war a campaign focus, vowing to end it “within a day” if re-elected.
Trump’s history with Putin has been under scrutiny since his 2016 campaign, during which he encouraged Russia to release Hillary Clinton’s missing emails. Throughout his presidency, Trump often praised Putin, even calling him “pretty smart” for launching the Ukraine invasion. s the Russia-Ukraine war intensifies, the world watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution.
