US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the handling of the Ukraine conflict, asserting that the prolonged crisis “should never have started” and that all involved parties share responsibility for its escalation. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump cast blame broadly, including on his predecessors, while defending plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin days later.
“Everything that we did was wrong. Everything that was done was wrong. Everybody’s to blame—Putin’s to blame, they’re all to blame,” Trump stated, responding to questions about whether his scheduled Alaska summit with Putin risked rewarding Moscow. He emphasized the conflict “didn’t start under me” and had gone largely unaddressed during his first term. The remarks follow heightened scrutiny of his diplomatic approach ahead of a rare high-stakes meeting aimed at addressing Russia-U.S. tensions.
Earlier in the week, Trump dismissed claims that the talks symbolized a concession to Moscow, lashing out at media coverage and critics, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton. “Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin,” he wrote Wednesday, condemning outlets for amplifying “fired losers” who suggested the summit implied Russian gains. “What’s that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING,” he added, dismissing such critiques as “fake news.”
The upcoming dialogue, set to take place in Anchorage, marks the first face-to-face engagement between the two leaders in years and is poised to tackle issues ranging from the Ukraine crisis to broader bilateral relations. Analysts note, however, that expectations for immediate breakthroughs remain low, with both U.S. and Russian officials describing the event as an initial step in a longer diplomatic process. Moscow has yet to publicly respond to Trump’s latest remarks.
The conflict in Ukraine, now entering its tenth year, has seen sporadic violence despite international efforts to broker peace. Trump’s comments divert attention from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and ongoing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine—actions widely condemned by Western allies, including under previous U.S. administrations. His assertion of universal blame underscores his administration’s recurring emphasis on distancing itself from policies enacted prior to 2017.
As geopolitical observers monitor the Alaska meeting’s outcomes, the discussions are expected to set the tone for future negotiations on security, arms control, and regional stability. While Trump has framed the summit as a demonstration of U.S. strength, critics argue his portrayal of shared fault risks undermining international consensus on accountability in the conflict.
