WASHINGTON, United States (US): US President, Donald J. Trump, has blamed Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the war in Ukraine, saying the conflict should never have started.
“When you start a war, you better know you can win,” Trump said.
“You don’t pick a fight with someone 20 times your size and then beg for missiles.”
While he acknowledged Russia’s Vladimir Putin “is not without fault”, Trump told German Press Agency (dpa) that all three leaders – Zelensky, Biden and Putin – share blame.
But his sharpest criticism was aimed at Zelensky, whom he met in late February at the White House alongside Vice President, JD Vance.
“We had a rough session,” Trump said. “He just kept asking for more and more.”
Ahead of that meeting, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “President Zelensky and the corrupt Joe Biden did a terrible job in allowing this farce to begin.”
Trump’s camp is working on a potential deal to end the war – one that aligns with Moscow’s terms, including Ukraine giving up its NATO bid and rejecting any US troop involvement in future peacekeeping.
The plan is being shaped by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, who maintains backchannels with the Kremlin.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. – BERNAMA
