US President Donald Trump claimed that Joe Biden’s «mocking» of Russia was allegedly one of the reasons for the full-scale war against Ukraine. He described this as a consequence of the previous administration’s behaviour, explained the reluctance to offend Vladimir Putin as a necessity to strike deals, and reiterated that under his presidency, the invasion would not have taken place.
Briefly about the main points
- Trump linked Russia’s war against Ukraine to the behaviour of the Biden administration.
- The US President does not want to offend Putin, so as not to complicate the agreements.
- He repeated the unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 election had been rigged.
- The agreement on Russian diesel has been criticised by lawmakers and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- There is still no confirmed peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
An interview in Alaska and statements about the election
Statement Trump said on 13 October in an interview with a Gray Media correspondent To John Decker during a trip to Wasilla in Alaska. A journalist asked the president about his views on the Russian leader and why he did not use harsh language when referring to him.
The US President also reiterated the claim that a full-scale war could allegedly have been avoided had he remained in office following the 2020 election. Trump once again described those elections as rigged, although no evidence has been found of widespread fraud that could have altered the outcome of the vote.
Trump’s negotiating position and divisions amongst Republicans
The question was prompted by the stance taken by the Republican senator from Alaska Dena Sullivan, who was known as Putin a dictator, an authoritarian leader and the head of a mafia-style regime. Sullivan also spoke out against the Trump administration’s recent agreement with Russia regarding diesel fuel.
Trump replied that publicly insulting the leaders of other countries could hinder the conclusion of agreements. He described himself as an experienced negotiator and said that it was precisely the art of striking deals that had helped him achieve financial success. In his view, negotiation is a more effective way of achieving results.
This position differs from Sullivan’s approach, which advocates tougher economic pressure on the Kremlin. During the interview, Trump did not announce a new agreement to end the war, nor did he specify the conditions under which Russia might cease hostilities.
Controversy surrounding supplies of Russian diesel
Ahead of the interview, the Trump administration announced an agreement with Moscow to increase supplies of Russian diesel fuel to the global market. The US President stated that this could help to lower fuel prices following disruptions to energy supplies caused by military action in the Middle East.
According to Trump, this does not necessarily mean direct imports of fuel into the United States, but rather greater availability of diesel on the international market. The decision has been criticised by Democrats and some Republicans in Congress.
As reported by the Associated Press, lawmakers fear that additional revenue from the sale of petroleum products could help Russia fund the war. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that easing US sanctions could encourage Moscow to continue its aggression.
The established context of aggression and the state of peaceful relations
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The General UN General Assembly condemned Russian aggression and demanded that Moscow withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. Trump’s claims regarding the role Biden The start of the war is a political assessment, not an established cause of the invasion.
As of 14 October, Trump is continuing talks with Moscow and defending the diesel deal. There is no confirmed peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
