Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprising statement Friday, suggesting the ongoing crisis in Ukraine might never have happened if Donald Trump had remained in the White House. Speaking to a Russian TV channel, Putin echoed Trump’s controversial claim that the 2020 U.S. election was “stolen,” adding that a Trump presidency could have prevented the conflict.

“I can’t help but agree with him,” Putin said, referring to Trump. “If his victory hadn’t been taken away in 2020, maybe the Ukraine crisis wouldn’t have erupted in 2022.” This remark comes despite Putin himself ordering the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine “in one day,” recently hinted at potential negotiations. He mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed interest in a deal and suggested Putin might also be open to talks. “I think Russia should want to make a deal,” Trump told reporters. “Every day we don’t meet, soldiers are dying on the battlefield.”

Putin seemed open to the idea, stating Russia is “always ready for negotiations.” However, he dismissed Trump’s threat of new sanctions against Moscow, arguing such measures would harm the U.S. economy. “He’s a pragmatic person,” Putin said of Trump. “I can’t imagine him making decisions that hurt America.”

Meanwhile, Zelensky accused Putin of trying to “manipulate” Trump to achieve his goals. During a meeting with Ukraine’s military leadership, Zelensky emphasized that no Russian tactics would succeed in undermining global efforts for peace.

The back-and-forth highlights the complex dynamics of the Ukraine conflict, with global leaders weighing in on potential solutions—and the role of past and future U.S. leadership in shaping the outcome.