U.S. President Donald Trump reignited controversy on Monday by attempting to shift blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, falsely accusing him of contributing to the deaths of “millions” of people.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with El Salvador’s president, Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Zelensky were collectively responsible for the war and its human toll.
“There are millions of people dead because of three people,” Trump said. “Let’s say Putin number one, but let’s say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelensky.”
The comments follow a heated Oval Office confrontation between Trump and Zelensky six weeks ago and mark a sharp escalation in Trump’s rhetoric toward the Ukrainian leader. Trump criticized Zelensky’s repeated requests for U.S. military assistance, saying, “He’s always looking to purchase missiles.”
“When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war,” Trump added. “You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size and then hope people give you some missiles.”
Tensions between the two leaders have intensified since Trump opened direct talks with Russia in February, a move that drew international attention and criticism. In the lead-up to their public clash on February 28, Trump echoed Kremlin narratives by accusing Ukraine of provoking the conflict and labeling Zelensky a “dictator without elections.”
Despite efforts from Kyiv to mend ties — including a recent visit by a Ukrainian delegation to Washington to discuss a potential mineral agreement favored by Trump — the former president has continued to increase pressure on the Ukrainian government.
Nevertheless, Trump claimed on Monday that peace negotiations were advancing. “I want to stop the killing, and I think we’re doing well in that regard. I think you’ll have some very good proposals very soon,” he said, without providing specifics.
His remarks came just one day after a Russian missile strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least 35 people — one of the deadliest attacks since the war began. Trump described the bombing as a “mistake,” while Russia claimed it had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian military leaders.
In an interview, Zelensky urged Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the war’s impact firsthand. “If he saw what we’ve gone through, he’d understand what we’re fighting for,” Zelensky said.
