Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2022, could have been avoided if Donald Trump had remained US president. He said this during a speech on Russian state television, AFP reports.
“I cannot but agree with Donald Trump that if he had been president and if his victory had not been stolen in 2020, perhaps the crisis in Ukraine that occurred in 2022 would not have happened,” Putin said, repeating unfounded claims of election fraud in the United States.
Statements.
These words came against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, launched by the Kremlin in February 2022. Putin has repeatedly tried to justify his actions, in particular by blaming Western countries and NATO.
Repeated statements about Trump’s “stolen victory” indicate Putin’s desire to create a positive image for the former US president, who was known for his ambiguous approach to relations with Russia.
What Trump said
Donald Trump himself has repeatedly claimed that he could have prevented the war in Ukraine thanks to his “great understanding” with Putin. However, his statements have been repeatedly criticised for lack of concrete evidence.
Experts note that such statements by Putin are aimed at strengthening the split in American society and influencing the political agenda in the United States. They are also used to justify aggression against Ukraine, particularly among the Russian audience.
