“Ukraine Emergency Could Have Been Avoided Under Trump”: Putin
Moscow:
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that the 2022 “emergency in Ukraine” — referring to Moscow’s full-scale military offensive — might not have occurred if Donald Trump had been the U.S. president at the time.
Putin expressed his willingness to hold discussions on Ukraine with Trump, describing him as a “smart” leader who could have prevented the conflict.
Putin’s Remarks on Trump
In an interview with Russian state television, Putin reiterated his openness to talks regarding Ukraine, emphasizing that Moscow has consistently expressed readiness for such discussions.
“We have consistently said, and I want to emphasize again, that we are prepared for talks on Ukrainian issues,” Putin said.
The Russian leader praised Trump as a “smart” and “pragmatic” politician and echoed Trump’s unfounded claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was unfairly decided against him.
“I agree with Trump that, had he been president — had his victory not been taken in 2020 — the crisis in Ukraine that began in 2022 might never have happened,” Putin added.
Tensions From Trump’s Statements
The ongoing Ukraine conflict, nearing its third year, has driven U.S.-Russia relations to their lowest point since the Cold War.
Trump, sworn in on Monday, called the war “ridiculous” and threatened Russia with severe economic sanctions if it failed to de-escalate.
“If they don’t end this war soon, and I mean immediately, I will impose massive tariffs on Russia, along with other sanctions,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump claimed that persuading Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices could end the war. “If oil prices drop, the Russia-Ukraine war will stop immediately,” he said.
Putin Pushes Back
Putin dismissed Trump’s assertion, arguing that lowering oil prices would not necessarily hasten the conflict’s end.
“I struggle to imagine decisions being made that would harm the U.S. economy,” Putin said.
Kyiv’s Reaction
Ukraine swiftly responded, rejecting the idea of being excluded from any negotiations.
“Putin wants to decide Europe’s fate without Europe and Ukraine’s fate without Ukraine,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office.
“This will not happen. Putin needs to return to reality, or he will be forced to. This is not how things work in the modern world,” Yermak added.
Continued Violence
Despite these political discussions, there have been no signs of de-escalation on the ground.
On Friday, Russian airstrikes near Kyiv killed three civilians and injured several others, according to Ukrainian officials. Drone fragments hit a 10-story residential building, while another private residence was also damaged.
Emergency services confirmed the casualties and shared images showing black smoke billowing from the affected buildings as rescue workers retrieved the victims’ bodies.
In retaliation, Ukraine launched overnight drone attacks targeting Russian infrastructure, including an oil refinery, a power station, and a microelectronics plant in the Bryansk region. State media reported that the attacks caused significant damage and temporarily halted operations at the plant.
Conclusion
As tensions between the two nuclear powers persist, the prospect of peace remains distant, with both sides engaging in continued military aggression. Meanwhile, Trump’s claims of resolving the conflict in “24 hours” if re-elected add a layer of political complexity to the already volatile situation.