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Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Ukraine War
Former President Donald Trump has stated that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should share the responsibility for the loss of life in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump made these comments during a press interaction at the White House following a meeting with the President of El Salvador.
During his remarks, Trump emphasized the gravity of initiating a war, noting, “When you start a war you got to know you can win.” He further laid blame on current President Joe Biden, suggesting that his administration’s decisions have contributed to the situation.
Trump’s comments arose after a significant escalation in violence, marked by a deadly missile attack in Sumy, a city in northeast Ukraine, which resulted in civilian casualties. This incident has heightened tensions internationally, particularly as it was labeled the deadliest Russian assault on civilians in recent months.
On Monday, Trump mentioned, “Millions of people dead because of three people,” referencing Putin, Biden, and Zelensky. However, it is crucial to clarify that while substantial casualties have occurred since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, estimates indicate that the number of deaths and injuries totals in the hundreds of thousands—not in the millions as Trump suggested.
Trump has questioned Zelensky’s strategic judgment, pointing out that the Ukrainian leader has been “always looking to purchase missiles.” He argued that engaging in conflict against a significantly larger adversary, like Russia, is imprudent without adequate military resources. “You don’t start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,” he remarked.
The relationship between Trump and Zelensky has remained strained since their tense exchange at the White House earlier this year. In an emotional appeal prior to Russia’s latest assault, Zelensky urged Trump to visit Ukraine. He implored the former president to witness firsthand the devastation faced by civilians, as well as the resilience of Ukrainian warriors and the humanitarian impact of the war. In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Zelensky said, “Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”
The recent attack on Sumy resulted in at least 35 fatalities and injured 117 individuals. Moscow claimed that it targeted a gathering of Ukrainian soldiers with Iskander missiles, asserting that 60 Ukrainian servicemen were killed. However, this assertion lacked substantiating evidence.
Despite the contentious discourse surrounding the conflict, Trump expressed a desire to end the violence, stating that he aims to “stop the killing” and hinted at upcoming proposals, though he did not provide specific details.
Source
www.bbc.com