Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bears partial responsibility for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a podcast interview with YouTuber Patrick Bet-David, Trump remarked, “He should never have let that war start,” criticizing Zelensky for his role in the conflict.
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and since then, Ukraine has been defending itself with substantial military aid from Western nations, including over 50 billion U.S. dollars from the U.S.—far less than Trump has claimed in the past.
Trump questioned the scale of U.S. support, calling Zelensky “one of the greatest salesmen I’ve ever seen,” and claiming that “every time he comes in, we give him 100 billion dollars.”
While expressing sympathy for Ukraine, Trump reiterated that the war would not have occurred if he had been president, citing the absence of conflict during his time in office. He also claimed that if elected in the upcoming November 5 election, he could end the war before his inauguration on January 20.
Trump’s stance on Ukraine aligns with that of his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, who has opposed providing any further aid to Ukraine. Polls currently show a tight race between Trump and Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
