Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his belief on Thursday that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump genuinely desires to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine, though he admitted uncertainty about Trump’s specific plans if elected.
Speaking at a news conference in Kazakhstan following a regional security conference, Putin responded to inquiries about Trump’s statements regarding his ability to swiftly resolve the Ukraine war if elected on November 5.
Putin stated, “The fact that Mr. Trump, as a presidential candidate, declares that he is ready and wants to stop the war in Ukraine, we take this completely seriously.”
However, Putin noted that he was not acquainted with Trump’s proposed strategies for achieving peace, calling this “the key question.” Nevertheless, Putin emphasized his belief in Trump’s sincerity and expressed Russia’s support for the idea of ending the conflict.
Reports have surfaced suggesting that Trump had discussed the possibility of allowing Russia to retain Crimea, annexed from Ukraine in 2014, and control over parts of the Donbas region in exchange for peace, although Trump’s campaign has not confirmed these discussions.
Additionally, Trump’s advisers reportedly presented a plan involving conditioning increased U.S. military support for Ukraine on its participation in peace talks.
Putin previously outlined Russia’s conditions for ending the conflict, including Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations and ceding control of disputed territories, terms swiftly rejected by Kyiv.
Regarding U.S. domestic politics, Putin remarked that constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington was challenging during the heated presidential campaign, indicating that Russia would await the election outcome before assessing the path forward.
When asked about his impressions of the first televised debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, Putin stated he had seen excerpts but did not delve into details, asserting that his preference for Biden as the future U.S. president remained unchanged.
Putin’s comments underscored Russia’s cautious stance amid the U.S. election dynamics, emphasizing the importance of waiting to see how the new U.S. leadership would engage with Moscow on international issues.
