During a press briefing held at the White House’s Oval Office, US President Donald Trump stated that the Ukraine conflict should have never occurred, with all parties involved equally to blame for the ongoing hostilities. He suggested that previous U.S. administrations, including his own, failed to address the issue adequately, emphasizing that the situation “should never have started.”
Trump made the remarks on Thursday while addressing the press, following a recent series of statements regarding the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. When asked about whether the upcoming meeting was a reward for Moscow, Trump reiterated his position that the conflict should have never begun in the first place. He noted that “it didn’t start under me, and for four years it wasn’t even discussed,” indicating that he believes the prolonged crisis is the result of inaction from multiple stakeholders.
In addition to addressing the Ukraine conflict, the summit is expected to focus on broader issues related to Russia-U.S. relations. The meeting, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, is considered the first in a series of talks aimed at improving bilateral relations. However, the significance of the meeting remains contested, with many questioning whether it will lead to meaningful progress.
Trump also recently dismissed criticisms of the summit, accusing media outlets of bias and spreading “fake news.” He criticized the reporting as “very unfair,” especially in relation to the involvement of figures like former advisor John Bolton, who reportedly claimed that “Putin has already won” despite the meeting taking place on American soil. Trump insisted that the U.S. was “winning on everything” and that the summit was a positive development.
Overall, Trump’s comments reflect his broader approach to foreign policy, characterized by a focus on U.S. interests and a skepticism of both domestic and international criticism. His remarks on the Ukraine conflict serve to shift the narrative away from any single party and place the blame on all sides, a stance that aligns with his historical tendency to criticize both domestic and foreign actors.