DONALD Trump said he had been “really let down” by Vladimir Putin – before suggesting that his invasion of Ukraine could spiral into World War 3.
The fed up US President slammed his Russian counterpart for “𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing many people” before revealing one move that could put an end to the war once and for all.
The US President said he had expected the war to be “among the easiest” to resolve because of his relationship with Putin but admitted that has not happened.
Suggesting Putin’s invasion could spill out into a global conflict, Trump said the Ukraine war doesn’t affect the United States, “unless you end up in a world war over this thing – you could”.
Asked about how to put an end to the fighting in Ukraine, Trump suggested: “If the price of oil drops Putin’s going to drop out of that war.”
“If the oil price comes down Russia will settle.”
Slashing global oil prices could deal a huge blow to Putin – ᵴtriƥping Russia of the cash it rakes in from Europe and therefore weakening the war machine in Ukraine.
Lower oil prices could be achieved by other countries increasing drilling rates – flooding global markets with cheap energy.
The US President later said that the conflict was heading to a “Third World War” but suggested it was not imminent.
Emphasising that the war “never would have started if I were President”, Trump also said Putin invaded Ukraine because “he didn’t respect the leadership of the United States”.
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The Don referred to his multiple calls with President Putin, saying that mad Vlad saw Ukraine as “the apple of his eye”.
And he later said he had “no regrets” about inviting the Russian dictator for a historic meeting in Alaska last month.
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Trump added: “He’s [Putin] 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing many people and he’s losing more people than he’s 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing, frankly the Russian soldiers are being 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed at a higher rate than the Ukrainian soldiers.
“It’s millions of people that have died in that war, millions of souls, and they’re not American soldiers.”
The most powerful man in the world also claimed that the soldiers were being 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed at “level’s nobody’s seen since the Second World War”.
The comments come as Sir Keir Starmer and Trump hold a press conference at Chequers just hours after announcing a groundbreaking tech deal.
The UK PM chimed in following Trump’s comments on Ukraine, saying that they were “working together to end the 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing in Ukraine”.
Starmer also said the war was a “challenge” to Europe and criticised some countries in the West for being too reliant on Russian energy.
But he emphasised there was no simple “silver bullet”, while calling for tougher sanctions.
The US President also faced down a range of other questions, from his stance on Gaza to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Asked about convicted paedophile Epstein and Peter Mandelson, he said he didn’t know the Labour grandee before quickly deflecting onto the Prime Minister.
Mandelson was sacked last Thursday after the UK ambassador to the US was revealed to have continued his friendship to disgraced financier Epstein after his first conviction in 2008.
Pressed on the Israel-Gaza war, Trump stressed the importance of not forgetting the heinous October 7 attacks.
And he told reporters that he disagreed with the PM on Sir Keir’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state.
Trump on Israel-Gaza
DONALD Trump said he disagreed with Keir Starmer over the Prime Minister’s position to recognise a Palestinian state.
Trump said: “I want the hostages released now. Right now. Not one, two, we’ll give you three more tomorrow.”
He praised his administration’s work for organising the release of so many hostages.
And he added that he was “shocked” to hear of their harrowing treatment by Hamas.
The US President said: “We have to remember October 7th, one of the worst, most violent days in the history of the world.
“I think it’s going to be okay, but it has been a brutal period of time.”
He added: “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score – one of our few disagreements, actually.”
Trump also told reporters he had “seen the tapes” from the infamous October 7 attacks in 2023.
He said: “Babies that are four months old and just chopped up to pieces.
“You’ve seen the tapes, and I’ve seen the tapes, you’re a professional and so am I.”
He added: “People forget about 7 October, I can’t forget about it.”
Trump said: “I want the hostages released now. Right now. Not one, two, we’ll give you three more tomorrow…
“We have to remember October 7th, one of the worst, most violent days in the history of the world.”
Trump continued: “I think it’s going to be okay, but it has been a brutal period of time.”
He added: “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score – one of our few disagreements, actually”.
Explaining that he had seen the tapes of October 7, Trump said: “Babies that are four months old and just chopped up to pieces.
