The Russian president said he was taking “very seriously” Donald Trump’s statements that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev would end quickly if he were elected. “I have no doubt that he is telling the truth and we will support him,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that he takes “very seriously” claims by US presidential candidate Donald Trump that if he is elected, the conflict between Moscow and Kiev will soon end.
“Mr. Trump, as a presidential candidate, says that he is ready and willing to stop the war in Ukraine. We take all this very seriously,” the Russian president announced during a press conference in Astana. “Of course I don’t know his possible proposals about how he wants to do this. Of course this is a basic question. But I have no doubt that he is speaking honestly and we will support him”, he continued.
Putin’s reaction comes less than a week before a NATO summit in Washington, where Ukraine is expected to be one of the dominant topics. The prospect of Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections in November raises great uncertainty about the stability of Washington’s support, which Kiev needs to resist a large-scale invasion by Russia.
In May 2023, Donald Trump said he would end the conflict “within 24 hours” if he returned to lead the White House. Last week, during a debate with Democrat and current US President Joe Biden, he added that if a North American president “respected by Putin” was in power in February 2022, at the start of the Russian invasion. The Russian leader “would never have invaded Ukraine”.
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