US President Donald Trump said the Ukrainian conflict could have escalated into a third world war if he had not been president, but he affirmed that this risk was gone.
Mr. Trump made this statement at the White House during his attendance at the oath-taking ceremony of Mr. Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India.
Mr Trump stressed that the Russia-Ukraine conflict would "never happen" from the start if he were still in office. He explained that when he first took office in January 2025, he felt the situation was very dangerous and could lead to World War 3. He took credit for himself, stating: "I have gathered NATO. I gathered everyone together."
This affirmation is part of Mr. Trump's efforts to build the image of a peacemaker. It also reflects his recent policy of prioritizing a quick diplomatic solution for Ukraine rather than an absolute military victory.
On November 3, Mr. Trump publicly refused to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a long-range weapon that President Zelensky highly desires. This move is seen as a lever to put pressure, forcing Kiev to seriously consider the negotiation path.
At the same time, Trump has pushed for a potential summit with Russian President Putin in Budapest, although the meeting has since been postponed.
Most recently, on October 30, Mr. Trump had a summit with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in South Korea. There, the two leaders eased trade tensions over rare earths and fentanyl. After the meeting, Mr. Trump revealed that he had discussed the issue of nuclear discharge with both the leaders of Russia and China.
President Trump also reiterated that many conflicts have been resolved. He affirmed that he had "destroyed 8 wars" and would eventually resolve the rest, referring to the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr. Trump did not specify the "8 wars" but the statement included his role as an intermediary in helping Thailand and Cambodia sign an expanded ceasefire agreement at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on October 26.
