Trump says war in Ukraine will end soon, Ukraine to change shape

US President Donald Trump has said in an interview that there is “tremendous hatred” between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, and that Zelensky showed “great disrespect to Russia” when the two first met. Trump also believes the war will end soon and that Ukraine will redraw its borders afterwards. The Hill reports his words, citing an interview in which Trump was questioned by CBS News journalist Ross Douthat.

Trump repeated that Putin would not have attacked Ukraine had he been president: “If I were president, the war would never have started. Zero chance. But it started.” He sees the problem precisely in the personal feud between the two leaders. When the journalist objected that, after the Russian invasion, Zelensky has reasons to hate Putin, Trump replied: “Okay, yes, but when they had their first meeting, there was great disrespect to Russia.” He did not specify which meeting he meant or what the disrespect consisted of.

“Ukraine will look different”

Trump is convinced that a deal is close and that the war will soon be over: “The only reason it’s coming to an end is me.” He expects Kyiv to eventually agree to territorial concessions. Asked whether Ukraine will remain independent and free, he said that Ukraine will have “a slightly different shape,” according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Trump did not explain what exactly that shape would be. Russia still demands that Ukraine hand over Donbas, and Ukraine rejects this.

Why Republicans lost the election

The president also commented on the Republicans’ defeat in the congressional elections. Once again he named the main reason as the fact that his name was not on the ballot. However, he acknowledged that candidates he had endorsed lost as well.

According to Trump, there is another factor: Americans do not like the war with Iran and the higher price of gasoline. He said this openly, The Times of Israel writes.

Unexpectedly, Trump did not criticize Vice President JD Vance, who had said Republicans lost because of the war with Iran. “He was right, but he should have said one more thing, which I think is very important. Historically, this will go down as one of the best things we’ve done, because if Iran ever got a nuclear weapon, it would blow up the world,” Trump said. He added that if he could make the decision again, he would still strike, “because they’re crazy.”

Trump named one more reason for the defeat: Americans “actually” don’t like Israel.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz