Trump: Putin wants peace because of me, not Biden

US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is now open to ending the war in Ukraine, and credited himself for Moscow’s apparent willingness to negotiate.

Speaking to ABC News, Trump said, “He would like to stop the war. I think so.” He emphasized that such a conflict would never have occurred during his first term. “At the end of my first presidential term, there wasn’t even a chance of a Ukrainian crisis,” Trump said. He blamed his successor, former President Joe Biden, for the war breaking out and added, “And I believe that because of me, he's ready to end hostilities.”

In a separate interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Trump described Russia as “a very powerful military force,” in contrast to Ukraine. “Russia is a very powerful military force and Ukraine is not. It is not doing well without help,” he said. Trump also recalled his decision to supply Kyiv with Javelin anti-tank missile systems during his presidency.

Trump further criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his conduct during a recent White House meeting, referencing Zelenskyy’s visit on February 28. “I talked about ending [the conflict in Ukraine], and he started yelling that they need [guarantees of] security,” Trump said. He added that he still finds it “easier to deal” with Putin than with Zelenskyy.

Just two days earlier, in an interview with The Atlantic, Trump was asked by editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg whether Putin could do anything that would make him take Ukraine’s side. Trump replied, “Not necessarily on Zelenskyy's side, but on Ukraine's side, yes. Yes. But not necessarily on Zelensky's side. I have had hard times with Zelenskyy. You saw that over here when he was sitting right in that chair, when he just couldn’t get it.”

Pressed on whether he would consider sending Ukraine more weapons to support its territorial integrity, Trump offered a broader concept of support: “Doesn’t have to be weapons. There are many forms of weapons. Doesn’t have to be weapons with bullets. It can be weapons with sanctions. It can be weapons with banking. It can be many other weapons.”

Addressing the current state of the war, Trump made clear he does not consider it his burden. “We'll see what happens over the next week or so. We're already at the finish line. And again – this is Biden's war. I’m not gonna get saddled—I don’t wanna be saddled with it. It’s a terrible war. Should have never happened. It would’ve never happened, as sure as you’re sitting there,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova