Trump

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

President Donald Trump shrugged off his bold campaign pledge to deliver peace to Ukraine on “Day 1” of his return to office, pushing aside the statement as having been “said in jest” and blasting the “Faux News” media for taking his commentary significantly.

In an unique and ranging interview with TIME journal senior political correspondent Eric Cortellessa and editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs to commemorate the passing of Trump’s first 100 days in place of job, the president was challenged on his promise.

“You stated you possibly can end the conflict in Ukraine on Day One,” the journalists requested after Trump reflected on his function on the sector stage his the beginning of his 2d term.

“Neatly, I mentioned that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point,” Trump responded, including: “And you already know, it will get, of course, by using the fake information [unintelligible]. Clearly, folks recognize that once I said that, it used to be said in jest, but it surely used to be also stated that it’s going to be ended.”

A deal has proved tough to close. Regardless of Trump managing to initiate separate ceasefire talks with each Russia and Ukraine, little growth has been made on peace. Trump has shifted to a extra hardline method, threatening to withhold military and intelligence toughen except Ukraine conforms to U.S.-led negotiation phrases, whereas blaming Moscow for “dragging their ft.”

The diplomacy has also been fraught with setbacks, public disagreements, and transferring positions. European allies have been blindsided with the aid of U.S. talks except Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed publicly in the Oval Place of job with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and ceasefire negotiations have time and again damaged down over Russian demands.

Urgent the president on the problem, the TIME journalists asked: “Neatly, what’s taking see you later? When do you assume it’s going to be ended?”

Trump pushed again: “Neatly, I don’t think it’s long. I mean, appear, I bought right here three months in the past. This battle has been happening for 3 years. It’s a warfare that would have never happened if I was president. It’s Biden’s battle. It’s now not my battle. I’ve nothing to do with it. I’d have by no means had this battle. This conflict would have never took place. Putin would have by no means completed it. This warfare would have never happened. Oct. 7 would have never happened. Would have never happened. Ever. Then you say, what’s taking so long? Do you hear this, Steve? The war has been raging for 3 years. I just obtained here, and also you say, what’s taken so long?”

“Do you assume peace continues to be that you can imagine if [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin is President?” the journalists asked.

Trump replied: “I believe peace is imaginable. You say if Putin is still president? I feel with me as president, there’s — that you can imagine, if very probable. If any person else is president, no probability.”

“If Putin could make peace?” they brought once more.

He persisted: “Yeah, I feel Putin will. I believe Putin would moderately do it a distinct means. I believe he’d somewhat go and take the entire thing. And I feel that on account of me, I believe I’m the one one that may get this factor negotiated. And I feel we’re a ways. We’ve had superb talks, and we’re getting very on the subject of a deal. And I don’t believe anyone else will have made that deal.”

Trump endured to remark that he doesn’t believe Ukraine “ever be able to sign up for NATO” and introduced: “I think what brought about the battle to start out was once after they started speaking about joining NATO. If that weren’t brought up, there would had been a significantly better likelihood that it wouldn’t have began.”

When asked whether or not “Crimea [should] go to the Russians,” the president blamed former President Barack Obama, who he claimed “passed” the territory to Russia.

Pressed for small print on whether a final peace deal would imply Russia retains Crimea, Trump stated: “Crimea will stick with Russia. And Zelensky knows that, and every person is familiar with that it’s been with them for a long time. It’s been with them long earlier than Trump got here alongside. Again, that is Obama’s struggle. It is a struggle that should have never happened. I name it the struggle that should have by no means took place.”

The publish Trump Shrugs Off Repeated Promise He Would End Ukraine-Russia War on ‘Day 1’: ‘Stated in Jest’ first appeared on Mediaite.