Former US President Donald Trump declined to say whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to win the war, saying Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a “smart guy” that he “committed a serious mistake” by invading the neighboring country and reiterated that if he were still in the White House he would have resolved the conflict in 24 hours.
“I don’t think in terms of winning or losing. I think in terms of it being resolved,” the Republican said in an interview on CNN.
“I want everyone to stop dying. They are dying. Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I will.”he added, in opposition to his party’s policy of backing Kiev.
“I would finish it in 24 hours. You need the power of the presidency to do it,” Trump said, reiterating that the conflict would not even have started if he had won re-election in the 2020 elections that he lost to Joe Biden.
“I will meet with Putin. I will meet with Zelensky. They both have weaknesses and strengths. And in 24 hours that war will be over. It will be over.”donald trump
Earlier, Trump insisted that he could stop the war that began in February last year by negotiating directly with Putin and the Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I will meet with Putin. I will meet with Zelenski. Both have weaknesses and strengths. And in 24 hours that war will be settled. It will end,” he said.
Trump declined to comment on whether the Kremlin leader is responsible for war crimes, as accused by several leaders of Western powers and in the framework of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for the deportation of children in occupied areas of Ukraine. by troops sent by Moscow.
“If you say that he is a war criminal, it will be much more difficult to reach an agreement for this to stop,” he argued, according to statements quoted by CNN itself.
The former president called Putin a “smart guy” but said the Russian leader “made a tremendous mistake.”
“Of course he is smart. They want you to say that he is a stupid person. He is not a stupid person, he is very cunning. Putin made a serious mistake in my opinion,” said the former president, who has already announced his intention to run for 2024 despite to the multiple accusations against him.
Asked to elaborate further on the idea, Trump said: “His mistake was going in. I never would have done it if I was president,” referring to the invasion of Ukraine.
On the other hand, the former president again denied acknowledging his defeat in the 2020 elections and reiterated his complaints about an alleged fraud, of which no evidence ever emerged.
“I think what happened is a shame. It’s very sad for our country and it’s very sad for the whole world.”indicated the magnate, 76 years old.
On the assault on the Capitol
Trump also repeated his version of what happened during his followers’ assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and commented that “one of the big problems” was the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, whom he called ” crazy Nancy.”
In addition, he pointed out that his former vice president, Mike Pence, “did something wrong” when he led the session in which Biden’s victory was made official.
In this sense, he pointed out that who was his vice “should have returned the votes to state legislatures”even though Pence had no authority to reject the claimed results.
The former president has also revealed that he would grant a pardon to “many” of those convicted of the assault on Congress.
Finally, he assured that he would accept the results of the 2024 presidential elections if “they are honest elections.”
“If they are honest elections, I will be honored (to admit defeat),” said the leader who will try to become the Republican Party candidate again.
