Former US President Donald Trump sparked controversy on Wednesday with remarks that appeared to blame Ukraine for the ongoing war with Russia. Speaking to reporters while attending US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia, from which Ukrainian representatives were notably absent, Trump pushed back against Ukraine’s objections to their exclusion.
“They’re complaining about not being at the table, but you know what, they should have never started it,” Trump declared, in an apparent reference to the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “If they didn’t want the war, they shouldn’t have provoked Russia. It’s as simple as that.”
The stunning comments fly in the face of the widely accepted narrative that Russian President Vladimir Putin bears sole responsibility for launching an unprovoked and illegal war against a sovereign nation. Trump’s insinuation that Ukraine is somehow to blame has already drawn sharp criticism from foreign policy experts and Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine Fires Back at Trump’s Accusations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasted no time in responding to Trump’s provocative statement. In a video address, a visibly angry Zelenskyy rejected the notion that Ukraine bore any responsibility for the war.
“This war began when Russia, and only Russia, sent tanks across our border and missiles into our cities. The suggestion that Ukraine wanted or provoked this invasion is absurd and offensive. We will never accept these shameful attempts to rewrite history and shift blame away from the aggressor.”
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy went on to reiterate Ukraine’s firm stance that they will never accept any ultimatums or compromises that threaten their sovereignty and territorial integrity. He called for the international community to maintain pressure on Russia until they fully withdraw from all occupied Ukrainian lands.
Concerns Over Trump’s Influence on Peace Process
Trump’s comments have also raised alarms among Western allies who fear the former president may be trying to influence the nascent peace process to Russia’s advantage. As a long-time admirer of Vladimir Putin, Trump has frequently been accused of taking a soft stance toward Russian aggression.
Foreign policy analysts warn that by seeming to validate Putin’s justifications for the invasion, Trump risks undermining Ukraine’s negotiating position and making it harder to hold Russia accountable. Some have called for the Biden administration to publicly reject Trump’s remarks and reaffirm unwavering US support for Ukraine.
Shaky Progress in US-Russia Talks
The controversial comments come as US and Russian diplomats report modest but fragile progress in their discussions on finding a mutually acceptable path to ending the 18-month conflict. Few details have emerged, but sources say the talks have focused on potential security guarantees and the status of Crimea and Donbas.
Ukraine has vehemently protested their exclusion from these negotiations, insisting that no decisions about their future can be made without their participation. Kyiv has stated they are willing to engage in direct talks with Moscow, but only if Russia first withdraws to its pre-2014 borders – a demand Putin has repeatedly rejected.
A War With No End in Sight
As the war grinds on with no clear path to resolution, Trump’s latest foray into the diplomatic arena risks further complicating an already arduous peace process. With Ukrainian troops engaged in bitter fighting to reclaim occupied territory and Russia showing no signs of backing down, the prospects for a negotiated settlement appear dim.
Against this backdrop, careless statements that seem to apportion blame to the victim of aggression can only deepen mistrust and division. As the world looks on with concern, it falls to responsible leaders on all sides to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, redouble efforts to bring the warring parties to the table, and chart a course to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine’s long-suffering people.
