Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the war in Ukraine would never have happened if Donald Trump had been in the White House in 2022, using his first face-to-face meeting with the US president in five years to signal hope for a reset in relations.
“I can confirm that,” Putin said when asked about Trump’s longstanding claim that his presence alone would have deterred Russia from invading. The two met in Alaska for talks that both sides described as constructive, with Putin calling the location “a logical venue given our countries’ shared history.”
The Russian leader said Moscow and Washington had now established “very good direct contacts” after what he called a “very difficult period” in relations. “It was necessary to rectify the situation,” he told reporters. “We will always remember how our countries were fighting common enemies. This heritage will help us in future.”
Putin said Ukraine was “one of the main topics” in the meeting and praised Trump’s “desire to understand the essence of the conflict.” While insisting Russia was “sincerely interested” in ending the war, he stressed that “all root causes must be eliminated, and all of Russia’s concerns must be taken into account.”
“I agree with Trump that Ukraine’s security must be ensured,” he added. “I hope that mutual understanding will bring peace to Ukraine.”
– Ends
Tune In