In recent statements made during a podcast with Patrick Bet-David, Donald Trump has once again raised a controversial issue: the responsibility of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskij in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump said Zelenskiy should never have allowed the war to begin, reinforcing rhetoric increasingly close to the aggressor, Vladimir Putin. “He should never have allowed that war to start. It’s a lost war.”Trump said, adding that President Joe Biden would “provoked that war” and that would never have happened if he had been in power.
Patrick Bet-David, host of the podcastis an Iranian-American entrepreneur and author, known for founding the financial services firm PHP Agency. Born in Iran, his family fled during the Iranian Revolution and settled first in a refugee camp in Germany, then in the United States. Bet-David has achieved considerable popularity through his YouTube channel “Valuetainment”, the multimedia platform where he interviews prominent figures and discusses topics related to entrepreneurship and leadership.
Trump’s words are part of a context of constant criticism of Zelenskij, who the former president defined as “one of the best sellers in the world”. Trump highlighted how Ukraine has received huge sums of money from the United States since the conflict began. “Every time he shows up, he gets a hundred billion dollars”he said, referring to the billions in military aid provided to Kiev, as confirmed by several sources, including Reuters and the BBC.
Trump also suggested that Ukraine might have to cede some of its territory to Russia to reach a peace deal, a proposal firmly rejected by Kiev. Zelenskiy, in fact, recently presented his “victory plan” to the United Nations General Assembly, stating that Ukraine’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable.
Trump’s statements are linked to a long path of closeness with Putin. During a recent debate with Kamala Harris, Trump reiterated that the war must end, but avoided speaking clearly about a possible Ukrainian victory. He claimed to have “a good relationship with both Putin and Zelensky” and promised to negotiate a peace that would “good for both parties”.
However, the relationship between Trump and Putin continues to raise doubts. According to Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, Trump called Putin up to seven times after leaving the White House, and even sent him Covid-19 tests during the pandemic.
The upcoming presidential election could mark a major shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine. Trump has often declared that the conflict would never have started if he had been president, a position he has repeated several times without ever clarifying how he intends to achieve peace. In contrast, Kamala Harris reiterated her continued support for Ukraine, criticizing Trump for his soft attitude towards Putin.
Trump’s statements, which seem to move away from unconditional support for Kiev, could mark a significant turning point in American foreign policy in the event of his victory in the elections. With the conflict in Ukraine still raging, the future of U.S.-Russia relations, and consequently the war, remains uncertain. Trump’s words open up unpredictable scenarios, while the world carefully observes the possible change of direction in American politics.
