KYIV, Ukraine — This week, former President Donald Trump sparked controversy with his remarks, placing the blame for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on the country itself. His comments have caused significant anger and concern among Ukrainians, who have been resisting a much larger Russian military force for nearly three years. Trump described President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “a dictator without elections” and alleged that Zelenskyy’s approval ratings are exceedingly low.
Zelenskyy responded by accusing Trump of spreading disinformation, saying that some of Trump’s statements mirror the narrative propagated by Russia regarding the war. Below are some of the key points from Trump’s statements and the factual corrections provided by various sources.
One of Trump’s claims was that Ukraine “should have never started it,” implying that the country could have negotiated peace. He stated, “You’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it. … You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
In reality, Russia initiated its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, under the false pretense of protecting Russian-speaking civilians in eastern Ukraine and thwarting Ukraine’s NATO ambitions. This aggression, however, has deep historical roots going back to 2014 when Putin annexed Crimea and instigated conflict in the Donbas region. Prior to the 2022 invasion, tensions had been escalating for years.
Regarding elections, Trump proclaimed, “We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law.” He cautioned Zelenskyy to act swiftly or risk losing his country. Interestingly, Zelenskyy was elected to his position in 2019 for a five-year term, with the next elections planned for spring 2024. Due to current martial law in Ukraine, elections cannot take place, but Zelenskyy maintains they will proceed once the law is lifted. He emphasized that many logistical challenges make fair elections impossible amid ongoing conflict, including the displacement of about 6.9 million Ukrainians since February 2022.
Trump also claimed, “The leader in Ukraine, I mean, I hate to say it, but he’s down at 4% approval rating.” However, a recent report reveals that Zelenskyy enjoys a trust rating of around 57%. The President countered Trump’s statement, identifying it as disinformation that has Russian origins. Zelenskyy announced plans to conduct polls to provide accurate data regarding public sentiment on his leadership.
In his comments, Trump exaggerated the death toll, saying “millions of people killed, including the soldiers.” However, credible estimates put the number of Ukrainian military deaths since the February 2022 invasion at over 46,000, while the civilian toll remains troubling but is nowhere near Trump’s millions. Such inflated claims lack verification and have no basis in reputable analyses of the situation.
On the subject of U.S. financial aid to Ukraine, Trump asserted that Zelenskyy expressed uncertainty about the whereabouts of half the funds, exaggerating the aid amount to $350 billion. In contrast, the oversight group in the U.S. Congress reports that approximately $183 billion has been sanctioned since the onset of the invasion. Zelenskyy acknowledged that around $70 billion has been received for military support, with additional aid for humanitarian efforts. He also noted that some funds reportedly never reached Ukraine, contributing to speculation about the missing money.
However, it is essential to understand that appropriated aid does not always directly cross into Ukraine. Many funds have instead been utilized to bolster the U.S. defense sector, supply new weaponry, and provide support for Ukrainian refugees. Thus, while questions remain regarding the flow of financial assistance, claims of widespread losses are exaggerated.
These statements and the clarifications surrounding them highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine amidst a brutal conflict, while also revealing the complexities involved in international support and media narratives. The situation continues to evolve, underscoring the need for accurate and informed discourse surrounding this critical issue.
