Ukraine Crisis Could Have Been Avoided Under Trump: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Friday that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which escalated into a full-scale military invasion by Russia in 2022, might have been avoided if Donald Trump had been president of the United States. In an interview with state television, Putin expressed his belief that the crisis could have been averted had Trump won the 2020 presidential election, referring to the conflict as the "crisis in Ukraine."

"I cannot help but agree with him," Putin said, speaking about Trump, "that if he had been president – if his victory hadn't been stolen in 2020 – then maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine that emerged in 2022." The Russian leader's comments reflect his ongoing narrative about the alleged legitimacy of the 2020 election results, which Trump has also frequently contested.

Putin's remarks underscore the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine, as well as the increasingly complex relationship between Russia and the U.S. during the Trump administration. Throughout his tenure, Trump often praised Putin and expressed admiration for his leadership, while also advocating for a less confrontational approach with Russia compared to his successors. The question of how different U.S. foreign policy might have been under Trump continues to fuel debate, especially as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating.