Trump’s Explosive Claims: ‘Zelensky Not Competent’ in Ukraine Crisis

Former US President Donald Trump has unleashed a blistering critique of Ukraine’s leadership, claiming the devastating war with Russia would never have erupted ‘if Ukraine President Zelensky was competent.’ The controversial remarks came during an impromptu press gathering at the White House, where Trump didn’t hold back in distributing blame for the ongoing conflict.

In typical Trump fashion, the former president pointed fingers in multiple directions, creating a political firestorm by suggesting that three key figures bear responsibility for the bloodshed that has engulfed Eastern Europe since 2022.

The Blame Game: Trump Names His War Culprits

During his attention-grabbing remarks, Trump didn’t hesitate to name those he holds responsible for what he described as a preventable tragedy. “If Biden were competent, and if Zelensky were competent, and I don’t know that he is… that war should never have been allowed to happen,” Trump told the assembled press corps.

But he didn’t stop there. The former president boldly claimed there are “millions of people de@d because of three people” before ranking his culprits: “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 War Would Never Have Started Under My Watch”

Perhaps most controversially, Trump suggested that his personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin would have prevented the entire conflict. “I went four years and Putin wouldn’t even bring it up and as soon as the election was rigged and I wasn’t here, that war started,” he declared with characteristic confidence.

The former president doubled down, adding, “I’m not saying that anybody’s an angel, but I went four years and it wasn’t even a question. He would never – and I told him ‘don’t do it, you’re not going to do it.’ And it was the apple of his eye, but there was no way that he would’ve done it.”

Harsh Words for Zelensky’s Defense Strategy

Trump reserved particular criticism for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approach to defending his country against the much larger Russian military. In dismissive terms, he characterized Zelensky as someone who’s “always looking to purchase missiles” rather than pursuing a more strategic approach.

“When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war,” Trump stated bluntly during a meeting with El Salvador’s president. “You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size, and then hope that people give you some missiles.”

These comments represent some of Trump’s harshest critiques yet of the Ukrainian leader, who has been widely praised by many Western countries for his resilience in the face of Russian aggression.

Signs of a Potential Peace Deal?

Despite the inflammatory rhetoric, Trump’s comments come against the backdrop of potentially significant diplomatic developments. According to reports, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Putin and has returned with claims that Russia may be open to a “permanent peace” arrangement.

Witkoff’s assessment sounds optimistic, suggesting the US and Russia “might be on the verge of something that would be very, very important for the world at large” – a tantalizing hint that back-channel negotiations could be bearing fruit.

The Political Calculus Behind Trump’s Statements

Political analysts suggest Trump’s willingness to criticize all parties involved – including Putin, whom he named as bearing primary responsibility – represents a calculated attempt to position himself as the ultimate peacemaker ahead of future negotiations.

By suggesting that “everybody’s to blame” while simultaneously claiming he alone could have prevented the conflict, Trump is crafting a narrative that only he possesses the diplomatic skill and personal relationships necessary to end the bloodshed.

Whether this approach will resonate with American voters or international leaders remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Trump’s controversial remarks have once again placed him at the center of one of the world’s most pressing geopolitical crises.

As the situation continues to evolve, all eyes will be on how Zelensky, Putin, and current US leadership respond to Trump’s provocative claims about a war that has reshaped global politics and caused immense human suffering across Ukraine.