Putin: Ukraine crisis may have been avoided if Trump won in 2020

File Source: AP News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the Ukraine crisis might not have occurred if Donald Trump had been reelected in 2020. Speaking to Rossiya 1 TV on Friday, Putin described his relationship with Trump as “strictly business-like, yet pragmatic and trust-based.” He stated, “I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president, if his victory had not been stolen from him in 2020, then maybe there would not have been the Ukraine crisis that broke out in 2022.”

Putin acknowledged the significant sanctions imposed on Russia during Trump’s term but argued these were not in the best interests of either nation. He criticized the Biden administration for introducing stricter measures, claiming they have harmed the U.S. economy and weakened the dollar’s global position.

On the Ukraine conflict, Putin reiterated Russia’s openness to dialogue, despite obstacles such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s executive order banning peace talks. He urged Ukraine’s allies to pressure Zelenskyy into repealing the order, saying, “The current Kyiv regime appears content to receive hundreds of billions from its benefactors.”

While emphasizing Russia’s willingness to engage in talks with the U.S., Putin highlighted the need for cooperation on shared concerns, including energy production and strategic stability. However, he noted that any progress depends on decisions by the current U.S. administration.