WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested in an interview that aired Thursday night that Ukraine should not have fought when Russia invaded it.
"Zelenskyy was fighting a much bigger entity, much bigger, much more powerful," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity. "He shouldn’t have done that, because we could have made a deal."
Trump has argued that Zelenskyy should have made a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid the war, a stance he reiterated in the Fox News interview.
"I could have made that deal so easily, and Zelenskyy decided that 'I want to fight,'" Trump said.
Trump went on to compare the number of tanks each country had, emphasizing that Russia had more.
"You don't fight those," Trump said.
A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked how Trump thinks Ukraine should have replied when Russia launched its invasion. The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russia, a U.S. adversary, attacked Ukraine, a U.S. ally, in February 2022. Casualties are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, on Sept. 27. Shannon Stapleton / Reuters file
Former President Joe Biden, who was in office when Russia attacked, consistently emphasized his alliance with Ukraine, pushing for aid packages for the beleaguered country and praising Zelenskyy's leadership. The Biden administration also placed sanctions on Russia shortly after it invaded, citing the war and other issues.
Trump has taken a markedly different approach, saying in the Fox News interview that Zelenskyy is "no angel," adding that he "shouldn't have allowed this war to happen." Trump also said that if Russia does not move to "settle this war soon," the United States would put "massive tariffs" and "big sanctions" on Russia.
Trump has said he would end the war within one day. However, there are no signs that it is any closer to ending.
Trump met with Zelenskyy in September, when he said he would work to end the war with a deal "that's good for both sides."
"We’re going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled and get it worked out," Trump told reporters before they met.
The same month, Trump also referred to Putin at a campaign rally as "no angel."
Trump's comments came in a two-part Fox News interview that was recorded Wednesday. The second part of the interview, which included Trump's comments about Zelenskyy, aired Thursday.
mrnovember27 on January 24th, 2025 at 12:59 UTC »
There is a false narrative that Ukraine inflicted damage upon itself by resisting Russia. The fact is what we saw in Kherson, Bucha, Izyium, and countless other occupied cities and villages would happen on a wide scale to subjugate the Ukrainian people into accepting Russian rule.
Resistance is costly, let there be no doubt. But resistance is not futile and has saved innumerable Ukrianians and Ukrainian communities.
It speaks volumes that Trump is framing Ukrainian resistance as he is. Despite his push for peace, he is no friend of liberty, justice or Ukraine. But we knew that already.
Epcplayer on January 24th, 2025 at 12:19 UTC »
I mean they straight up invaded, and sent people to kill Zelenskyy. His options were run and negotiate (in which case the country likely falls, and the west can’t do much), or stay and fight.
I understand why Trump thinks he could “Negotiate a deal”, but that’s literally what happened in 2014… did they stop? No, Russia then tried to cause unrest in other parts of Ukraine. Turns out just like Munich Agreement in 1938, the invading army eventually wants more.
Zelenskyy made the tough choice to stay and fight… which was the right decision.
MaximusIsRedge on January 24th, 2025 at 11:44 UTC »
I guess, if someone's attacking the USA, the USA won't fight back? 🤔 Is that how it works?