The peace plan proposed by the Trump administration last year heavily favors Russia, the aggressor, at the expense of Ukraine, America's ally. Trump is even on record saying it was Ukraine that started the war, not Russia.
Trump has maintained that Ukraine and the Biden administration were to blame for "letting him attack" and failing to avert the invasion. Historians, international observers, and fact-checkers from outlets like AP News have heavily countered these statements, pointing out that Russia initiated the conflict by annexing Crimea in 2014 and launching a full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Did Donald Trump actually say that "Russia is fine on Ukraine and that they haven’t been doing much?"
Yes, Donald Trump did say that. On Monday, October 19, 2026, while speaking to reporters outside the White House, President Trump stated, "Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much." [1]
President Donald Trump did say that. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, October 19, 2026, Trump stated, “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine.” He added, “They haven't been doing much”. [1, 2]
- The Context: Trump made the remarks while expressing open interest in a trilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on denuclearization. When asked if such a meeting would address the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump downplayed the need, leading into his comments about Russia. [1]
- Strained Relations: The statement came amid escalating friction between Washington and Kyiv. During the same media availability, Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating that Zelenskyy was "not helping matters much" and calling on Ukraine to "get somebody else to negotiate" an end to the war. [1, 2, 3]
- Backlash: The comments sparked immediate criticism from domestic lawmakers and Ukrainian officials, who pointed out that the remarks directly conflicted with ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.
- Sanctions and Trade Decisions: Trump shunted aside a bipartisan law imposing new tariffs on Russia and moved to waive sanctions targeting financial resources fueling Russia's war. He also brokered a deal to purchase and import Russian diesel fuel. [1, 2]
- Rift with Zelenskyy: Following public disagreements, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him the primary obstacle to peace and suggesting "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president". Critics argue this shifts the diplomatic pressure entirely onto Kyiv rather than the aggressor. [1, 2, 3]
- Operational Friction: Media and intelligence reports have highlighted a disruption in U.S.-provided Starlink and satellite internet services crucial for Ukrainian military operations, alongside a threatened cut-off of U.S. intelligence sharing. [1, 2]
- Local Anxiety in Ukraine: Observers and journalists in Kyiv report deep anxiety among the Ukrainian public, with many fearing that the U.S. administration intends to hand over territory and "sell out" Ukraine to achieve a quick diplomatic win. [1, 2]
