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Donald Trump, who has long expressed sympathy toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Putin initiated. Criticizing Zelenskyy's repeated requests for U.S. aid, Trump said in a podcast released Thursday, "I feel very badly for those people—but he should have never let that war start... that war is a loser."
As he often does, Trump also pointed fingers at President Joe Biden, accusing him of "instigating" the war by provoking Putin and Russia. Some supporters of Ukraine have predicted that U.S. aid to the country would stop if Trump returns to the presidency, although Trump has said he plans to negotiate a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. "This should have been settled before it started," Trump said during the PBD Podcast.
Trump has previously blamed Zelenskyy for the invasion, which began in February 2022. Speaking to supporters in North Carolina earlier this month, Trump criticized ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine, saying, "We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal."
In Thursday’s podcast, Trump once again mocked Zelenskyy, calling him "one of the greatest salesmen I’ve ever seen," referring to his success in securing U.S. aid. Trump added, "That doesn’t mean I don’t want to help him because I feel very badly for those people. But he should never have let that war start."
Trump and Zelenskyy met late last month. When speaking with reporters, Zelenskyy expressed hope for better relations in the future, despite his concerns that Trump may not fully grasp Ukraine's struggles. In response, Trump remarked, "It takes two to tango."
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Biden administration announced a new $425 million aid package for Ukraine. According to a government report, as of June 30, 2024, the U.S. Congress had approved over $174.2 billion in supplemental funding for the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
Donald Trump, who has long expressed sympathy toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Putin initiated. Criticizing Zelenskyy's repeated requests for U.S. aid, Trump said in a podcast released Thursday, "I feel very badly for those people—but he should have never let that war start... that war is a loser."
As he often does, Trump also pointed fingers at President Joe Biden, accusing him of "instigating" the war by provoking Putin and Russia. Some supporters of Ukraine have predicted that U.S. aid to the country would stop if Trump returns to the presidency, although Trump has said he plans to negotiate a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. "This should have been settled before it started," Trump said during the PBD Podcast.
Trump has previously blamed Zelenskyy for the invasion, which began in February 2022. Speaking to supporters in North Carolina earlier this month, Trump criticized ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine, saying, "We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal."
In Thursday’s podcast, Trump once again mocked Zelenskyy, calling him "one of the greatest salesmen I’ve ever seen," referring to his success in securing U.S. aid. Trump added, "That doesn’t mean I don’t want to help him because I feel very badly for those people. But he should never have let that war start."
Trump and Zelenskyy met late last month. When speaking with reporters, Zelenskyy expressed hope for better relations in the future, despite his concerns that Trump may not fully grasp Ukraine's struggles. In response, Trump remarked, "It takes two to tango."
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Biden administration announced a new $425 million aid package for Ukraine. According to a government report, as of June 30, 2024, the U.S. Congress had approved over $174.2 billion in supplemental funding for the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
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