Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, triggered by Moscow’s full-scale military offensive, might have been avoided if Donald Trump had been the United States president at the time.
Speaking during an interview with a state TV reporter on Friday, Putin linked Trump’s absence from the White House to the escalation of tensions that culminated in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president — if his victory hadn’t been stolen in 2020 — then maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine that emerged in 2022,” Putin remarked.
The Russian leader’s comments refer to Trump’s continued and unfounded claims that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged against him, resulting in his loss to Joe Biden. Trump’s assertions, repeatedly dismissed by courts and election officials, have remained central to his rhetoric as he campaigns for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Putin’s statement reflects a view frequently expressed by both Russian officials and Trump himself, who have implied that Trump’s presidency maintained a more stable relationship between Moscow and Washington. Trump has repeatedly touted his rapport with Putin as a point of pride, claiming that his leadership prevented the kind of geopolitical crises that have since unfolded.
The 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked a significant escalation in a conflict that began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine. The full-scale offensive, which has led to widespread devastation and global repercussions, has drawn sharp criticism and sweeping sanctions against Russia from Western nations, including the United States under President Biden’s leadership.
Putin’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over the West’s role in supporting Ukraine and the potential implications of U.S. political leadership on the trajectory of the conflict. While Trump’s foreign policy approach was marked by efforts to recalibrate U.S. alliances and often criticised for its unpredictability, his supporters argue that his administration prioritised avoiding direct military confrontations.
The conflict in Ukraine, which has entered its third year, continues to be a major flashpoint in international relations, with no clear resolution in sight. Putin’s comments highlight how narratives around U.S. political dynamics are being leveraged to frame interpretations of the war and its causes.