Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that the Russia-Ukraine war would likely not have occurred if US President Donald Trump had been in power in 2022—a claim Trump himself has made in the past while criticising former President Joe Biden.
Speaking at a joint press conference after nearly three hours of talks with Trump in Anchorage, Putin recalled warning Biden at the time against letting tensions escalate into full-scale hostilities. “When President Trump says had he been the President back then, there would have been no war, I am quite sure it would indeed be so,” he remarked.
Putin described Friday’s discussions as “constructive” and “useful,” adding that the Alaska setting carried historical significance for both nations. He emphasised the geographic closeness of Russia and the US, separated only by the Bering Strait, and greeted Trump as a “dear neighbour.”
Highlighting Alaska’s shared past, Putin pointed to its role during World War II as a vital air bridge for US military supplies to the Soviet Union. “Our countries defeated common enemies together in a spirit of camaraderie. That heritage can help us rebuild and foster mutually beneficial ties,” he said.
The Russian leader also acknowledged that US-Russia relations had reached their lowest point since the Cold War, stressing the need to move from confrontation to dialogue. “It has been four years since the last summit between our nations. That does not benefit either of our countries or the world,” Putin said, while noting that Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff had already made several visits to Russia in preparation for the talks.
In Russia, state media hailed the summit as a positive step, highlighting the warm gestures between the two leaders, including Trump applauding Putin as the red carpet was rolled out at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
