Ukraine Crisis Might Not Have Happened Were Trump President": Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the 2022 "crisis in Ukraine" — referring to Moscow's large-scale military offensive — might have been avoided had Donald Trump been the U.S. president at the time. In comments made on Friday, Putin praised Trump as a "smart" and "pragmatic" leader, claiming that if the former U.S. president had been in power, the conflict may never have escalated.

Putin was responding to a question from Russian state television, emphasizing that Russia was ready for talks with the U.S. on the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. However, he did not specify when these talks might take place. Despite Trump’s recent public statement that he was willing to meet with Putin “immediately,” the Kremlin said it was still awaiting “signals” from Washington to proceed.

Trump's Influence on the Ukraine Conflict

Putin reiterated a controversial claim often made by Trump, suggesting that the 2020 U.S. presidential election had been "stolen" from him, and argued that Trump's victory would have prevented the war in Ukraine. "If his victory hadn't been stolen in 2020, maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine," Putin stated, echoing Trump's rhetoric.

The war in Ukraine has strained relations between Russia and the United States, pushing them to their lowest point since the Cold War. Despite this, Trump, who recently assumed office again, has called the ongoing conflict “ridiculous” and warned Russia of severe economic sanctions if the war continues. Trump has also suggested that lowering oil prices could help bring an end to the conflict. "If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately," he claimed during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.

Putin’s Rebuff to Trump’s Oil Price Strategy

Putin dismissed Trump's claim that reducing oil prices could end the war, stating, "I have a hard time imagining there will be decisions taken that are detrimental to the American economy."

Ukraine Warns Against Exclusion from Talks

Meanwhile, Kyiv quickly responded to Putin’s comments, warning against excluding Ukraine from any peace talks. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said, “Putin wants to negotiate the fate of Europe — without Europe. He wants to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine.” He added, "This is not how it works in the modern world. Putin needs to come back to reality, or he will be brought back."

Escalating Violence

The conflict has shown no signs of de-escalation. Russian aerial attacks on Kyiv on Friday resulted in three deaths and several injuries, Ukrainian officials reported. Additionally, Ukraine launched 120 drones targeting Russian regions, including the capital Moscow, which has been under regular assault since the invasion began in February 2022.

Russian state media reported that six Ukrainian drones struck an electronics factory in the Bryansk region, causing significant damage. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a Russian oil refinery and power station facilities.

As the war continues, the stakes remain high, with both sides locked in an ongoing struggle while international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain elusive.