Saturday, 07 February, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the 2022 "crisis in Ukraine" -- a reference to Moscow's full-scale military offensive -- might have been averted had Donald Trump been US president at the time.
"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 that emerged in 2022," Putin told a state TV reporter.
Vladimir Putin has suggested that the ongoing "Ukraine crisis" may never have occurred had Donald Trump remained in office. Putin’s statement underscores the Russian leader’s view that Trump's policies were more favourable to Russia and created a deterrent against such an invasion.
Trump himself has claimed that Russia likely wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if he had been president, citing his more direct approach towards Russia during his tenure, such as implementing tough sanctions on Moscow and opposing projects like the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Putin's comments align with Trump's assertions that the situation might have been avoided if the U.S. had maintained a stronger, more assertive foreign policy under his administration.
Trump often critiques current President Biden's approach, suggesting that Putin was emboldened after Biden's policies, including the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. As a result, some analysts believe that the unpredictability of Trump's leadership might have made Russia hesitant to act aggressively.
Russia said Friday it shot down 120 drones over a dozen regions overnight, including over the capital Moscow, in one of the biggest such barrages of the nearly three-year conflict.
The defence ministry said air defences "intercepted and destroyed" 120 drones, as well as one over the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. Russian media reported damage in various regions, including fires.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the 2022 "crisis in Ukraine" -- a reference to Moscow's full-scale military offensive -- might have been averted had Donald Trump been US president at the time.
"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 that emerged in 2022," Putin told a state TV reporter.
Vladimir Putin has suggested that the ongoing "Ukraine crisis" may never have occurred had Donald Trump remained in office. Putin’s statement underscores the Russian leader’s view that Trump's policies were more favourable to Russia and created a deterrent against such an invasion.
Trump himself has claimed that Russia likely wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if he had been president, citing his more direct approach towards Russia during his tenure, such as implementing tough sanctions on Moscow and opposing projects like the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Putin's comments align with Trump's assertions that the situation might have been avoided if the U.S. had maintained a stronger, more assertive foreign policy under his administration.
Trump often critiques current President Biden's approach, suggesting that Putin was emboldened after Biden's policies, including the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. As a result, some analysts believe that the unpredictability of Trump's leadership might have made Russia hesitant to act aggressively.
Russia said Friday it shot down 120 drones over a dozen regions overnight, including over the capital Moscow, in one of the biggest such barrages of the nearly three-year conflict.
The defence ministry said air defences "intercepted and destroyed" 120 drones, as well as one over the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. Russian media reported damage in various regions, including fires.
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