Washington:
President Donald Trump suggested in a Fox News interview that Ukrainian President Voldymy Zelenky should not resist Russian aggression. “Zelensky was fighting a much bigger entity, much bigger and much more powerful,” Trump said, stressing that Russia’s superior military could render resistance futile. “He shouldn’t have done it because we could have made a deal.”
Trump’s stance on the conflict is rooted in his belief that Zelensky should have negotiated a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid war. “I could have made that deal very easily. Zelenskiy decided, ‘I want to fight,'” Trump claimed, arguing that Zelenskiy’s decision to resist was misguided. This perspective is in stark contrast to that of former President Joe Biden. Joe Biden has consistently supported Ukraine’s right to defend itself and imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion.
The Ukraine-Russia conflict has resulted in devastating losses, with hundreds of thousands of casualties estimated. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Trump has expressed skepticism about Zelensky’s leadership and suggested that war should be prevented. But he also added that if Russia did not move to “resolve this war soon,” the United States would impose “massive tariffs” and “major sanctions” on Russia. Meanwhile, Biden praised Zelenskiy’s leadership and provided significant aid to Ukraine.
In September, Trump met Zelenskiy and said he would strike a deal that would be “good for both sides.” Before meeting with him, he had told reporters, “We’re going to work very hard with both parties to calm this down and resolve it.”
Trump’s comments on the conflict also raise questions about his approach to foreign policy. Although he claims to end the war within a day, his statements about Ukraine’s decision to resist Russian aggression have raised concerns about his understanding of the conflict and its complexities. Moreover, there seems to be no end to the war in sight.
