With just weeks before the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump has stirred controversy once again by blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden—not Vladimir Putin—for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During a podcast interview released on Oct. 17, Trump claimed that Biden “instigated the war,” and criticized Zelensky for allowing it to happen, even as Washington sends billions in military aid to Kyiv.
“That war’s a loser,” Trump said, arguing that if he had been president, the conflict would have been avoided entirely. He stated, “It would’ve been so easy to settle, if we had a president with half a brain.”
Notably absent from Trump’s comments? Any mention of Putin, a glaring omission given allegations that the former president had secret conversations with the Russian leader after leaving office. Trump has denied these claims, calling them “absolutely wrong,” but refused to confirm if he had spoken to Putin post-presidency, leaving the door open to speculation.
Trump’s remarks come at a critical time, as the U.S. election could shape the future of Washington’s support for Ukraine, with the former president signaling a major shift in policy. While he criticized the war, Trump offered no concrete plan for achieving peace, but insisted it “would’ve never started” under his leadership. As tensions rise both abroad and at home, his comments are sure to spark intense debate.
