Trump blames NATO aspirations for Ukraine conflict escalation
The President of the USA, Donald Trump, has once again caused a stir. He has reiterated his belief that Kyiv is responsible for instigating a full-scale war with Russia, attributing Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO as the catalyst. Trump further stated that Crimea will remain under Russian control.
Donald Trump granted an interview to "Time" magazine to coincide with the upcoming hundred days of his second term in presidency.
The interview naturally touched upon the issue of ending the conflict in Ukraine. "You said you would end the war in Ukraine on Day One," the reporter remarked.
“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration,” Trump responded. He clarified that his claims about ending the war within 24 hours of assuming office have been misinterpreted by misleading media. “Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended,” Trump explained.
When asked why he has not yet achieved peace, he answered:
“Well, I don’t think it’s long. I mean, look, I got here three months ago. This war has been going on for three years. It's a war that would have never happened if I was president. It's Biden's war. It’s not my war. I have nothing to do with it. I would have never had this war. This war would have never happened. Putin would have never done it. This war would have never happened. Oct. 6 would have never happened. Oct. 7 would have never happened. Would have never happened. Ever. You then say, what’s taking so long? Do you hear this, Steve? The war has been raging for three years. I just got here, and you say, what's taken so long?” Trump remarked.
Trump was also asked whether he believes peace is feasible if Zelensky remains the President of Ukraine.
Yeah, I do. He is president now and I think we’re going to make a deal. - admitted Trump, who has previously criticized President Zelensky.
The President of the USA asserted that Ukraine has no realistic chance of joining NATO.
“I think that's been—from day one, I think that's been, that's I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO. If that weren't brought up, there would have been a much better chance that it wouldn’t have started,” he stated.
In Trump's view, Crimea should be Russian.
“Well, Crimea went to the Russians. It was handed to them by Barack Hussein Obama, and not by me. With that being said, will they be able to get it back? They've had their Russians. They've had their submarines there for long before any period that we're talking about, for many years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea. But this was given by Obama. This wasn't given by Trump. Would it have been taken from me like it was taken from Obama? No, it wouldn't have happened. Crimea, if I were president, it would not have been taken,” reiterated the President of the USA.
Simultaneously, he believes Zelensky must accept that Ukraine will not regain Crimea.
