Donald Trump Blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Starting War in Ukraine
In a recent statement, former US President Donald Trump has attributed the blame for the ongoing war in Ukraine to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Joe Biden. Speaking in the Oval Office during a meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump questioned Zelenskyy’s competence and suggested that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war against Russia, a country significantly larger than Ukraine.
According to ITV News, Trump stated, "When you start a war, you’ve got to know that you can win the war. You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles." This statement has sparked controversy, particularly in light of a recent Russian missile strike that killed 34 people in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, also injured 117 people, including seven children, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. ITV News reports that Trump had previously described the missile strike as a "mistake," but later clarified that the mistake was "letting the war happen." He added, "If Biden were competent and if Zelenskyy were competent… That war should’ve never been allowed to happen."
Trump’s comments have been met with criticism, with many questioning his understanding of the conflict in Ukraine. The former US President did, however, attribute some blame to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, "I’m not saying anybody’s an angel. Biden could’ve stopped it and Zelenskyy could’ve stopped it and Putin should’ve never started it. Everybody’s to blame."
ITV News also reports that Trump repeated his false claims of a rigged 2020 election, stating that the war would never have started if the election hadn’t been fixed. This claim has been widely disputed and has not been supported by evidence.
In response to the attack, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a global response, stating, "Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves." European leaders have condemned the attack as a war crime, with Russia claiming that the missile strike had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian troops.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for several years, with tensions between Russia and Ukraine showing no signs of easing. ITV News will continue to provide updates on this developing story.
In related news, Russia and Ukraine’s top diplomats have accused each other of violating a tentative US-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. The two countries’ foreign ministers spoke at separate events at the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a day after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss peace prospects.
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