Silke Mayr Former US President Donald Trump revealed that his administration engaged in “very serious” talks with Russia about the war in Ukraine. He suggested he and Russian President Vladimir Putin might soon take “significant” steps toward resolving the nearly three-year conflict.
“We will be speaking, and I believe we may do something significant,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He emphasized his desire to end the war, asserting, “That war would not have started if I was president.”
Trump did not disclose who in his administration had been in contact with Russian officials but maintained that discussions were already taking place. When asked if he had personally spoken with Putin, Trump replied, “I don’t want to say that.”
Criticism of Zelenskyy and Biden’s Approach
Trump has repeatedly claimed he would have prevented the war if he had remained in office. However, he was president while fighting intensified between Kyiv’s forces and Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Since his return to political life, Trump has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not reaching a deal with Putin. In a Fox News interview earlier in January, Trump mocked Zelenskyy, saying, “He talks so brave,” despite Ukraine’s heavy reliance on US support.
“They were brave, but we gave them billions of dollars,” Trump stated. Ukraine depends on the US for about 40% of its military needs. Since February 2022, the US has provided Kyiv with over $65 billion (€62 billion) in aid.
Praise from Putin and Election Controversy
In a recent Russian state television interview, Putin described Trump as a “clever and pragmatic man” who prioritizes US interests. He asserted that their relationship was business-like but built on trust.
Putin also endorsed Trump’s narrative about the 2020 US election, saying, “If they hadn’t stolen victory from him, the Ukraine crisis could have been avoided.” This comment supported Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. Numerous US officials, courts, and Trump’s own former staff have confirmed no evidence of such fraud exists.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised he could end the Ukraine war “within a day.” He criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for spending billions in taxpayer money to support Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
Trump’s ties to Putin have drawn scrutiny since his 2016 campaign, during which he called on Russia to release Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails. He later sided with Putin over US intelligence on Russia’s election interference. Trump has even praised Putin’s actions, referring to him as “pretty smart” for the invasion of Ukraine.