Putin Blames Trump’s 2020 ‘Defeat’ For Ukraine War, Signals Willingness To Negotiate

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the ongoing war in Ukraine could have been avoided if President Donald Trump had not lost the 2020 election. In a recent interview, Putin claimed that Trump’s presence in the White House would have prevented the conflict from developing.

According to Putin, Trump’s leadership style and negotiation skills could have led to a different outcome. He referred to Trump as a “smart” and “pragmatic” leader and expressed Russia’s readiness to engage in diplomatic talks regarding Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian officials continue to criticize Western nations for their involvement in the conflict. They argue that ongoing military support to Ukraine has hindered any meaningful peace efforts and accuse Western leaders of backing what they call an “illegitimate” government in Kyiv.

President Donald Trump recently reiterated his position that the war could have been stopped before it began. He posted on Truth Social, warning Russia that without a peace agreement, severe economic actions such as tariffs and sanctions would be imposed on Russian exports to the U.S.

In response, Ukrainian officials made it clear that peace discussions cannot move forward without input from European allies. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office emphasized that Ukraine would not engage in negotiations without broader international involvement.

Reports have surfaced suggesting that early peace efforts were derailed by Western influence. Russian officials allege that Ukraine was initially willing to negotiate but was pressured by foreign governments to abandon potential agreements.