In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, Vladimir Putin has claimed Donald Trump would have crippled Ukraine's defence by cutting off US military aid, forcing Kyiv into negotiations on Moscow's terms. The Russian leader's extraordinary admission exposes the profound Kremlin interference feared by Western allies.
The incendiary comments, made during a high-stakes meeting in Moscow, suggest Trump's return to power would have fundamentally altered the war's trajectory. "He would have found a way to stop further supplies of weapons," Putin stated, alleging this would have compelled Volodymyr Zelensky's government to seek a truce.
Kyiv's Defiant Response
Ukrainian officials have reacted with fury and defiance. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky, dismissed Putin's claims as "primitive manipulation," asserting that any US administration would recognise the global threat posed by Russian expansionism.
"The United States understands that the fall of Ukraine will mean a full-scale war in Europe and the involvement of the American army," Podolyak warned, highlighting the strategic stakes extending far beyond Ukraine's borders.
Escalating Violence on the Frontline
These political revelations unfold against a backdrop of intensified violence. Russian forces have launched a devastating new offensive north of Ukraine's capital, with Kyiv enduring its first aerial assault in 44 days. The attack, involving ballistic missiles and drones, represents a significant escalation in targeting civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted all incoming threats, but the psychological impact on a city experiencing relative calm underscores the war's unpredictable nature.
The Diplomatic Fallout
Putin's comments represent an unprecedented intervention into Western politics, explicitly backing Trump's return to power as beneficial to Russian interests. This overt meddling is likely to complicate already strained relations between Moscow and Washington, regardless of November's election outcome.
Western intelligence agencies have long warned of Russian attempts to influence US elections. Putin's blunt assessment provides the clearest indication yet of Moscow's preferred candidate and the expected geopolitical dividends.
As Ukraine continues to battle Russian advances amid critical ammunition shortages, these revelations about potential future US policy have injected new uncertainty into an already volatile conflict. The world watches anxiously as political manoeuvring in Washington threatens to reshape the battlefield in Eastern Europe.
