US President Donald Trump called for an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war in his first interview since returning to the White House, saying that Russian Pres Vladimir Putin He should never have launched his full-scale invasion in 2022.
Trump told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity that an estimated 850,000 Russian soldiers and 700,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the beginning of the war.
“These are human beings being slaughtered by the millions on this battlefield. They're already dead, and the cities – the cities are like demolition sites,” he said in an interview that aired Thursday on “Hannity.”
An interior view shows a kindergarten, which according to Ukrainian military officials, was damaged by bombing, in Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine, in this photo posted on February 17, 2022. Combined Forces Operation Press Service/Handout via Reuters (Press Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters)
The 47th president criticized former President Joe Biden for “allowing” the war to start, claiming that his predecessor's energy policies made Putin richer.
“Putin shouldn't have done it either. I mean I don't just blame Ma – Putin shouldn't have done it. He shouldn't have done it, and it should stop,” Trump said.
He threatened the authoritarian leader In a real social post On Wednesday, calling on him to make an agreement or face more economic pressure.
“Settle down now, and stop this ridiculous war! It's only going to get worse. If we don't make a 'deal' soon, I have no other choice but to impose high levels of taxes.” Definitions and penalties “On anything Russia sells to the United States and many other participating countries,” Trump wrote.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via videoconference at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 19, 2023. ((Photo by Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images))
Putin and XI pledge to “deepen” the alliance hours after Trump returns to the White House
He told reporters at the White House on Thursday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky He did tell him that he was willing to negotiate an end to the war.
“He's had enough,” Trump told Hannity. “He shouldn't have allowed this to happen either. You know, if he wasn't an angel, he shouldn't have allowed this war to happen. First of all, he's fighting a much larger entity, okay? Much larger.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, second from left, looks at a map during his visit to the Ukrainian 110th Mechanized Brigade in Avdiivka, the site of fierce battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on December 29, 2023. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
Zelensky criticizes Putin over Christmas strikes: “What could be more inhumane?”
“Zelensky was fighting a much larger entity — much bigger and much stronger. He didn't have to do that because we could have made an agreement and it could have been an agreement — it could have been no deal.” Trump said. “I could have made this deal so easily, and Zelensky decided I wanted to fight.”
Reuters reported in November Putin is open to discussing the peace plan. He may reportedly agree to freeze the conflict along current lines.
Five current and former Russian officials told the newspaper that Moscow will not tolerate Ukraine joining NATO, and will not allow the presence of NATO forces on Ukrainian territory.
A public area in Kiev was transformed into Ukrainian flags, each representing a war death. (Simon Owen/Fox News)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia is retired. Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg told America Reports: Earlier this month He would like to see the war end within 100 days of Trump taking office.
