Former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is partly responsible for the Ukraine-Russia war, stating that both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin share blame.
In a January 23 interview with Fox News, Trump remarked, “Zelensky... shouldn’t have allowed this to happen either. He’s no angel. First of all, he’s fighting a much bigger entity.”
During his campaign, Trump criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, and Zelensky for their roles in the ongoing conflict, pledging to negotiate a swift peace deal if re-elected. He also accused Zelensky of initially choosing to fight instead of pursuing a deal, while acknowledging Ukraine’s courage in resisting Russian aggression.
“We started pouring equipment... and they (Ukraine) had the bravery to use the equipment, but in the end, it’s a war that has to be settled,” Trump said.
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Trump has frequently criticized the Biden administration's handling of the conflict, claiming it provoked Putin and enabled Russia to profit from high energy prices.
He also accused Biden of failing to pressure European countries to contribute more aid, alleging Washington spent "$200 billion more than Europe," a claim inconsistent with official figures.
As of now, the U.S. has allocated over $170 billion to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, including $60 billion in military support. Meanwhile, the EU and its member states have provided $145 billion in financial, military, and humanitarian aid.
Peace Talks
Trump reiterated his belief that the war would not have begun had he been in office, criticizing Putin for refusing to negotiate and threatening "massive tariffs, massive taxes, and big sanctions" if Russia continues the conflict.
Despite this, Trump expressed his desire to avoid such measures, stating he "loves" Russia but believes the war must end.
Arrangements are reportedly underway for a meeting between Trump and Zelensky, while Trump also plans to meet Putin to discuss potential peace talks. Moscow welcomed the idea of talks with Trump but expressed skepticism about the U.S.’s objectives in negotiations.
Casualty Figures
In the interview, Trump cited unverified casualty figures, claiming Russia had lost 850,000 soldiers and Ukraine 700,000.
These numbers differ significantly from Zelensky’s official estimates of 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 370,000 wounded as of December.
Russia has not publicly disclosed its losses.
