Trump: Zelensky 'shouldn't have allowed' war with Russia to happen

President Trump suggested Friday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bore some responsibility for the war that began almost three years ago with Russia's invasion.

“Zelensky — I will say this, he wants to settle now. He's had enough. He shouldn't have allowed this to happen, either,” Trump said during an interview on Fox News’s “Hannity” that aired Thursday.

He added that the Ukrainian leader should have made a deal before Russia invaded.

“Look, Zelensky was fighting a much bigger entity, much bigger, much more powerful. He shouldn't have done that, because we could have made a deal and it would have been a deal that would have been — it would have been a nothing deal,” Trump told Sean Hannity.

“I could have made that deal so easily. And Zelensky decided that, 'I want to fight.'”

The Kremlin, which invaded and occupied the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine in 2014, launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, seeking to overtake the capital city of Kyiv and other land. Both countries have seen hundreds of thousands of military casualties in the war, while more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians has been killed and many more injured.

During his campaign, Trump said he'd deliver a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia on Day 1 of his presidency. Earlier this week, the president warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he'd impose costly tariffs on Russia if the war doesn't end soon.

In criticizing Zelensky, Trump noted Russia had 30,000 army tanks ready to be deployed on the battlefield.

“Zelensky had none, practically. You don't fight those,” Trump said. “Now, then we started pouring equipment, pouring, pouring, pouring, and they had the bravery to use the equipment. But in the end, that's a war — has to be settled.”

In recent days, the president has said he is ready to meet with Putin in his push to end the war. Zelensky's team has reportedly reached out to Trump's to arrange a meeting as well.

Trump on Wednesday threatened Putin with sanctions if the war doesn’t end “soon.”

“Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better,” Trump wrote Wednesday in a Truth Social post.

“It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.’ NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”

Topics

Trump suggests Ukraine shouldn't have fought back against Russia

President Donald Trump suggested in an interview that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should not have fought when Russia invaded his country in 2022.
NBC News - 5h
Trump threatens Russia with taxes, tariffs, sanctions if 'ridiculous' Ukraine war not ended

President Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia if there is no deal to stop the fighting in Ukraine "soon." "I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian ...
The Hill - 2d
As Trump Takes Office, Zelensky Urges Europe to Stand Firm Against Russia

Speaking a day after Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s president told world leaders at Davos that Europe needs to remain united and “learn how to take care of itself.”
The New York Times - 3d
Trump: Putin 'destroying Russia' with war in Ukraine

President Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “destroying Russia” with its nearly three-year war in Ukraine, adding he hopes the Kremlin leader is open to making a deal to end the ...
The Hill - 3d
Oilers' McDavid, Canucks' Myers Will Have Hearings After Fierce Ending: 'There's Frustration That's Allowed To Happen'

Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers received match penalties for cross-checking in the dying seconds between the Oilers and Canucks. Both coaches were asked about the ending.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Trump: Jack Smith shouldn't be allowed to release report

President-elect Trump said Sunday that former special counsel Jack Smith shouldn’t be allowed to “issue a ‘report’ on a complete and total Witch Hunt against me.” "Why would Deranged Jack Smith be ...
The Hill - Jan. 12
Trump can use Russia’s space program to end the war in Ukraine

Trump could sweeten the deal by making Putin an offer he can’t refuse.
The Hill - Jan. 12
Zelensky Expresses Hope for 2025, but Russia Presses On With Attacks

In his New Year’s address, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged continued U.S. support.
The New York Times - Jan. 1
‘Just by existing, he’s extended this war’: Timothy Snyder on Trump, Russia and Ukraine

Historian and bestselling author of On Tyranny worries over Trump’s return to power – and the influence of Elon Musk. Timothy Snyder was not surprised to be asked to help rebuild a Ukrainian ...
The Guardian - Jan. 1