Vladimir Putin Endorses Donald Trump: Says Ukraine War Might Have Been Avoided

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the Ukraine war might have been avoided if Donald Trump had been the U.S. president in 2022. Speaking in an interview with state TV, Putin agreed with Trump’s claim that his 2020 election victory was "stolen" and described Trump as a "smart and pragmatic" leader.

“I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president – if his victory hadn't been stolen in 2020 – then maybe there would not have been the crisis in Ukraine,” Putin said.

A Call for Dialogue

Putin proposed meeting Trump to discuss the Ukraine war and global energy issues, saying, “It would be better for us to meet... to talk calmly on all those areas that are of interest to both the United States and Russia. We are ready.”

He added that he did not expect Trump to impose sanctions that could harm the U.S. economy.

Trump Urges End to the War

In response, Trump, now in his second term as U.S. president, called the ongoing war "ridiculous" and urged Putin to make peace with Ukraine.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said, “That battlefield is like no battlefield since World War II... Soldiers are being killed daily at numbers we haven’t seen in decades. It would be nice to end that war. It’s a ridiculous war.”

Key Takeaways

• Putin believes the Ukraine war might have been averted under Trump’s leadership.
• He supports Trump’s claim of a "stolen" 2020 U.S. election.
• Both leaders seem open to dialogue about resolving the Ukraine conflict.