Official announcements from the U.S. government, Ukraine, or Russia; major news outlets reporting a confirmed peace agreement

Trump Sympathizes with Russia's NATO Stance, Aims to Resolve Ukraine Conflict Within Six Months

Jan 7, 2025, 06:00 PM

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club, expressed sympathy with Russia's opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, attributing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to President Joe Biden's policies. Trump stated that Russia has long opposed NATO's involvement with Ukraine, a position he described as 'written in stone.' He criticized Biden for changing the U.S. stance by suggesting that Ukraine should be able to join NATO, which Trump believes led to Russia's invasion due to the proximity of NATO to its borders. Trump also mentioned that an early peace deal between Ukraine and Russia was disrupted by Biden's insistence on Ukraine's NATO membership and his administration's incompetence. Additionally, Trump hopes to resolve the conflict within six months of his inauguration on January 20, 2025, and has expressed readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after taking office. Members of NATO have supported Ukraine's eventual membership since the 2008 Bucharest Summit, though an invitation has not been extended.