Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin was “doing what anybody would do” after Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine days after the US cut off vital intelligence and military aid to Kyiv.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday Trump said he finds it “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Putin “wants to end the war”.

“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” Trump said. “In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia.”

Asked whether the Russian leader was taking advantage of the pause in US intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine, Trump replied: “I actually think he is doing what anybody else would do.”

  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I mean, if Putin just wants to stop fighting, he could completely just you know: stop fucking fighting.

    I cannot imagine a world in which Russia withdraws from the front lines and Ukrainian militants just call it a day. Way too much blood on the ground for people to just turn themselves off and call it done.

    If Putin extended an offer that didn’t involve him eating the barrel of his own gun, Zelenskyy’s own guys would lynch him for taking it.

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Well, obviously Ukraine would chase the invaders back to the pre-2014 borders and then stop.

    • marcianojones@lemmy.org
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      2 days ago

      Didn’t they just stop fighting in ww1 ? I don’t think its the same but not impossible. True Putin should retreat and leave the Ukrainian soil.

      • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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        1 hour ago

        Stopping fighting is how most wars ended. It’s not a fucking cage match between two militaries that only ends after every person in one of the two militaries is dead.