Trump Blames Putin for Ongoing War in Ukraine and Urges NATO Members to Increase Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Speaking in a video address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, US President Donald Trump directly blamed Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump said that he would lower the price of oil because ‘if the price drops, the Russian-Ukrainian war will end immediately’ because Russian energy revenues fund its military budget. He added: ‘It's time to end it.’
Trump has announced that he is going to ask Saudi Arabia and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to ‘lower oil prices’.
Asked whether he believed the war in Ukraine would be over by the time the WEF returns to Davos in a year's time, Trump said: ‘Well, you'll have to ask Russia. Ukraine is ready to make a deal.’
This is the latest indication of Trump's changing view of the war and warming relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Politico writes.
Trump also said he would guarantee the security of liquefied natural gas supplies to Europe. ‘Yes, I would. I would make sure you get that. If we make a deal, we make a deal. You will get it.’
The United States is already the European Union's second largest gas partner and largest supplier of LNG after Russia cut off supplies following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.