Trump finally calls Russia aggressor in war with Ukraine
US President Donald Trump has has finally, after months of refusing to do so, called Russia the aggressor in the war against Ukraine, Politico reported on Monday.
"Some 8,000 soldiers have died this week from both countries. A little more from Russia, but when you’re the aggressor, you lose more," Trump told reporters on Sunday, referring to the losses suffered by Ukrainian and Russian troops.
Trump has previously refused to condemn Moscow for the invasion, and in February his administration sided with Russia and North Korea, rejecting a UN proposal to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russia. In February, the US also opposed a G7 statement that called Russia the aggressor.
In April, Trump blamed Ukraine for the war, saying: “You don’t start a war against someone who is 20 times your size and then hope people give you a few missiles.”
But Trump’s stance toward the Kremlin has shifted over the summer, with his administration putting increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin as the Russian president blocks Trump’s efforts to hold direct peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"I stopped seven wars, and I thought this one was going to be easy for me, but it turned out to be hard. I think I have to do all the talking. They [Zelenskyy and Putin] hate each other. They hate each other so much they can’t breathe," Trump said Sunday.
With Trump’s tougher stance failing to bring Putin to the negotiating table with Zelenskyy, the US administration has faced growing calls for tougher sanctions on Russia. On Sunday, Trump said he planned to do so — but only after Europe stops buying Russian oil and tightens its own sanctions regime.
