In a dramatic shift, President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia, fuelling fears of a US pivot toward Moscow. His remarks, made at Mar-a-Lago, falsely claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating was “at 4%” and called for elections in wartime—echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s narrative.
Trump also suggested Ukraine should have struck a deal to avoid war, implying submission to Moscow’s control. His stance contradicts Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reassurances of a fair peace process. Meanwhile, European leaders, excluded from recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, worry Trump’s approach rewards Russian aggression.
Amid backlash, key Republican senators distanced themselves. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker condemned Putin as a war criminal, while Sen. John Kennedy likened him to Stalin. With tensions rising, Trump’s push for a swift peace deal risks further divisions within NATO and US foreign policy.
