Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the ongoing war in Ukraine might not have occurred had the 2020 U.S. presidential election not been “stolen” from former President Donald Trump. Speaking to a Russian TV reporter, Putin repeated Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and election theft, which Trump has long argued led to his loss in the election to Joe Biden.
In the interview, Putin aligned himself with Trump’s assertion that, had the former president won a second term, the crisis in Ukraine would likely never have arisen. “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 said.
The Russian president also expressed his readiness to meet with Trump to discuss the ongoing war and other issues of mutual concern. He referred to Trump as “smart and pragmatic,” reinforcing the idea that a meeting could be beneficial for both nations. Putin’s comments come amid escalating tensions between Russia and the U.S. over the war in Ukraine, with President Biden leading Western efforts to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
Trump, who has consistently claimed that his loss in 2020 was due to voter fraud, had previously stated that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was triggered by a lack of respect for Biden’s leadership. According to Trump, had he been in office, Putin would not have invaded Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin’s remarks as attempts to manipulate the peace process. In his evening address, Zelensky stated, “He wants to manipulate the desire of the president of the United States of America to achieve peace.” Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance that any negotiations involving Ukraine must include European leaders, emphasizing that Putin’s approach to discussions, without European or Ukrainian representation, was unacceptable.
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, responded to Putin’s proposal, stating that negotiations about Ukraine’s future cannot take place without Ukraine’s direct involvement. He said, “Putin needs to come back to reality, or he will be brought back. This is not how it works in the modern world.”
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue, the battlefield remains active. Ukrainian forces have been targeting Russian military infrastructure, including missile parts factories and oil storage depots. Recent Ukrainian drone attacks have damaged multiple Russian regions, with significant damage reported in areas like Bryansk, Kursk, and Ryazan. While Russia’s air defense systems intercepted a majority of the incoming drones, some managed to reach their targets, causing fires and destruction.
In the Kyiv region, Ukrainian drone strikes resulted in civilian casualties, with three people reported dead overnight in the latest attacks. Firefighters responded to fires in residential buildings caused by the drone assaults, which also left many injured.
Both sides have increased their use of drones since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, with exchanges of these unmanned vehicles now common. Despite the ongoing conflict, Ukraine remains resolute in its stance, and its leadership continues to push for a diplomatic resolution that includes the full participation of Europe and Ukraine in any peace talks.
