‘He should never have...,’ Trump blames ‘salesman’ Zelensky for starting Ukraine war

In yet another comment which is poised to cause panic in Kyiv, the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Thursday (Oct 18) blamed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war against Russia. He also reiterated that Zelensky was “the greatest salesman” he has ever seen. “Every time he comes in, we give him $100 billion," the ex-US president claimed in an interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David.

"But he should never have let that war start. That war is a loser," he added.

‘Zelensky at fault’

Expanding on his previous arguments, Trump said Zelensky was to be blamed not just for failing to end the war but also for starting it in the first place.

"That doesn't mean I don't want to help him because I feel very badly for those people. But he should never have let that war start. The war's a loser," Trump said.

However, news agency AFP later quoted the Trump campaign as saying the former president was “clearly talking about Biden” and not Zelensky when he made those comments.

He also shifted his focus on US President Joe Biden, blaming him for instigating the war in Ukraine.

Trump’s remarks on Thursday marked his first statement on Zelensky since the Ukrainian leader presented him with his “victory plan” in a meeting in September.

Trump to cut down Ukraine aid

Trump’s public posture on the Ukraine war suggests he may wind down economic as well as military support to the war-torn nation after becoming the president.

The US remains a key ally of Ukraine, having injected more than $64.1 billion in military assistance to Zelensky’s government since the start of the war.

On the other hand, Trump on several occasions has touted his ‘friendly relationship’ with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Trump has vowed to end the conflict in Ukraine as a president-elect, ‘before even entering the White House’; however, he has not revealed how he would do that.

(With inputs from agencies)