Former President Donald Trump on Thursday accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Russia's unprovoked and bloody invasion in February 2022.
In fiery remarks about the current state of the United States under the Biden-Harris administration, President Trump denounced the billions of dollars in aid that Washington poured into Kiev, saying President Zelenskyy “should never have started that war.” ” he declared.
“I think Mr. Zelenskiy is one of the greatest salesmen I've ever seen,” the 78-year-old said.PBD Podcast” with host Patrick Bett David.
“Every time he comes along, we give him $100 billion. Has anyone else in history ever gotten that much money?
“That doesn't mean I don't want to help him, because I feel so bad for them,” the Republican candidate added. “But he should never have started the war. Remember that war is a loser, Ukraine is not Ukraine anymore.”
Trump did not elaborate further on why President Zelensky, 46, was unable to avert the 32-month war, instead reserving his sharpest criticism for President Biden, 81.
“This problem should have been solved before it started. It could have been. It would have been so easy. If we had a president with half a brain, we could have solved it easily,” Trump said. insisted.
“I mainly blame Biden,” he continued. “He instigated that war… [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin is no angel, but everything Biden said was wrong. That should never have happened. ”
Throughout the 2024 campaign, President Trump adamantly maintained that the Ukraine war would never have started if he had been president, and claimed he could end the war within 24 hours, but this claim has drawn skepticism from Kiev.
Russia annexed Crimea under former President Barack Obama and invaded Ukraine during the Biden administration, a point that President Trump has repeatedly emphasized.
Last month, Trump met with Zelensky at Trump Tower, during which he said Zelensky had a “very good relationship” with both the Ukrainian leader and President Putin.
Zelenskiy retorted, saying, “I hope that relations between our countries will become even better.''
According to reporter Bob Woodward's latest book, “War,” President Trump has had up to seven telephone conversations with President Putin since leaving the White House. The former president has not denied the report.
President Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, has caused a stir in Ukraine with his public plan to end the war by establishing a demilitarized zone between the two countries and forcing Ukraine to promise not to join NATO.
In response, President Zelenskiy criticized Vance, calling him “too radical.”
Despite President Trump's dissatisfaction with the wave of aid the United States has sent to Kiev, the 45th president expressed deep sympathy for the Ukrainian people.
“Almost every city is being thrown to the ground…all those beautiful golden domes are lying shattered,” Trump told Bet David. “As you enter the city, all the buildings are torn down. It looks like demolition crews have come through.”
Since the 2016 election campaign, Trump has been dogged by criticism from the left that he is too cozy with President Putin, 72.
But President Trump greenlighted deadly military aid to Ukraine during his first administration, something his predecessor did not.
Last week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte dismissed European concerns about President Trump's second term.
“Really, stop worrying about Trump taking office,” the former Dutch prime minister, who took over as NATO secretary-general earlier this month, told reporters in London. “I don't know who will win.”
