AP Photo/Paul Sancya
President Donald Trump shrugged off his ambitious campaign pledge to bring peace to Ukraine on “Day 1” of his return to office, dismissing the remark as having been “said in jest” and blasting the “Fake News” media for taking his remark seriously.
In an exclusive and ranging interview with TIME magazine senior political correspondent Eric Cortellessa and editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs to commemorate the passing of Trump’s first 100 days in office, the president was challenged on his promise.
“You said you would end the war in Ukraine on Day One,” the journalists asked after Trump reflected on his role on the world stage his the beginning of his second term.
“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point,” Trump replied, adding: “And you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news [unintelligible]. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended.”
A deal has proved
The diplomacy has also been fraught with setbacks, public disagreements, and shifting positions. European allies were blindsided by U.S. talks excluding Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed publicly in the Oval Office with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and ceasefire negotiations have repeatedly broken down over Russian demands.
Pressing the president on the issue, the TIME journalists asked: “Well, what’s taking so long? When do you think it will be ended?”
Trump pushed back: “Well, I don’t think it’s long. I mean, look, I got here three months ago. This war has been going on for three years. It’s a war that would have never happened if I was president. It’s Biden’s war. It’s not my war. I have nothing to do with it. I would have never had this war. This war would have never happened. Putin would have never done it. This war would have never happened. Oct. 7 would have never happened. Would have never happened. Ever. You then say, what’s taking so long? Do you hear this, Steve? The war has been raging for three
“Do you think peace is still possible if [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin is President?” the journalists asked.
Trump replied: “I think peace is possible. You say if Putin is still president? I think with me as president, there’s — possible, if very probable. If somebody else is president, no chance.”
“If Putin can make peace?” they added again.
He continued: “Yeah, I think Putin will. I think Putin would rather do it a different way. I think he’d rather go and take the whole thing. And I think that because of me, I believe I’m the only one that can get this thing negotiated. And I think we’re a long way. We’ve had very good talks, and we’re getting very close to a deal. And I don’t believe anybody else could have made that deal.”
Trump continued to remark that he doesn’t believe Ukraine “ever be able to join NATO” and added: “I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO. If that weren’t brought up, there would have been a much better chance that it wouldn’t have started.”
When asked whether “Crimea [should] go to the Russians,” the president blamed former President Barack Obama, who he claimed “handed”
Pressed for details on whether a final peace deal would mean Russia keeps Crimea, Trump said: “Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time. It’s been with them long before Trump came along. Again, this is Obama’s war. This is a war that should have never happened. I call it the war that should have never happened.”