Putin keeps Ukraine war going, Trump tells world leaders


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Former President Donald Trump pointed to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the key figure prolonging the Ukraine conflict, which is approaching its third year.

Speaking via video link at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump responded to questions about potential peace prospects between Russia and Ukraine at next year’s conference. “Well, you’re gonna have to ask Russia,” Trump said. “Ukraine is ready to make a deal.”

The former president also suggested that OPEC bears partial responsibility for the ongoing conflict due to elevated oil prices. “If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” said Trump, referencing Russia’s substantial revenue from energy exports.

As the conflict nears its three-year mark since Russia’s February 2024 invasion, Trump reflected on his interactions with Putin. “I knew that it [Ukraine] was the apple of President Putin’s eye, but I also knew that there was no way he was going in … and he wasn’t going to go in,” Trump told the WEF crowd. “And then when I was out [of office] bad things happened, bad things were said, a lot of stupidity all around and you end up with what you have.”

Trump expressed concern about the extent of destruction and casualties, stating, “Now you have all of these bombed-out cities – they look like demolition sites with many people killed. I think the thing that you’ll see about Ukraine is far more people died than is being reported.”

Earlier this week, Trump shared insights from his communication with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I don’t know if Putin does. … He might not. I think he should make a deal. I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal.”

During his own WEF address, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for increased European involvement in peacekeeping efforts. “Most of the world’s now thinking — so, what’s going happen to their relationship with America? What will happen to alliances? To support? To trade? How does President Trump plan to end wars?” Zelenskyy said. “But no one is asking these kinds of questions about Europe. And we need to be honest about that.”