MOSCOW — On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that the conflict in Ukraine could have been averted had Trump been in office during 2022. Putin indicated that Moscow is willing to engage in discussions with the U.S. over a variety of subjects.
In a televised interview broadcast by Russian state media, Putin commended Trump as a “clever and pragmatic man” focused on the interests of the United States. “We have always maintained a professional and pragmatic, yet also trusting relationship with the current U.S. president,” Putin remarked. “I think it’s hard to dispute his point that if he had been president and the 2020 election had not been compromised, the crisis in Ukraine could have been avoided.”
Putin’s remarks represented the clearest support for Trump’s claims about the 2020 election to date. Trump has previously stated that he would have prevented the conflict from escalating had he remained in office, despite having presided over a period of heightened tensions in Ukraine, where fighting had intensified between Kyiv government forces and Russian-backed separatists prior to Putin initiating military operations in 2022.
In a recent interview, Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should have negotiated with Putin to prevent the war. In response, Putin stressed that he remains open to dialogue but criticized Zelenskyy for ruling out any negotiations with Moscow in 2022. “How can we negotiate if such discussions are prohibited?” he questioned, adding that any negotiations under the current framework would not be viewed as legitimate.
Putin highlighted that there are numerous issues on the agenda for both the U.S. and Russia, which include nuclear arms control and economic topics. “We have many points of common interest with the current administration and should look for solutions to the pressing issues of today,” he stated.
He claimed that the sanctions imposed on Russia during both Trump’s presidency and that of Joe Biden had negatively impacted U.S. interests, diminishing the dollar’s dominance in the global economy. In his remarks, Putin characterized Trump as “not only clever but also pragmatic,” asserting, “I find it difficult to believe he would make decisions detrimental to the American economy.”
Putin suggested that a direct conversation addressing mutual interests could be beneficial. He pointed out that as prominent oil producers and significant industrial actors on the world stage, both Russia and the U.S. have a vested interest in stable oil prices. “We have numerous topics to discuss,” he remarked.
In a video address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump noted that OPEC+, the coalition of oil-exporting nations, bears some responsibility for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine because of elevated oil prices. He contended, “If prices decreased, the Russia-Ukraine war would come to an end immediately,” highlighting that energy sales are a substantial source of revenue for Russia.
When asked about Trump’s assertions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Moscow’s belief that the crisis stemmed from Western countries’ neglect of Russian security concerns. “The conflict is not dictated by oil prices,” Peskov stated during a press call. “The ongoing situation arises from perceived threats to Russia’s national security and the continuous disregard by American and European nations for Russia’s security needs.”
Peskov’s comments echoed Putin’s earlier statements regarding the military deployment in Ukraine as a necessary measure to safeguard Russian security, particularly in light of Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and the protection of Russian-speaking populations in the region. Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned these actions as an unwarranted act of aggression.
On Wednesday, Trump indicated that significant tariffs and sanctions would be imposed on Russia should there be no agreement reached to end the hostilities in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Peskov acknowledged that the Kremlin is closely observing Trump’s comments and recalled that he had implemented a range of sanctions during his first term. He expressed that Moscow remains prepared for an equal and respectful dialogue, noting that such exchanges occurred during Trump’s previous presidency, and they are awaiting further signals of engagement from Washington that have been lacking.
