In an interview with ABC News, US President Donald Trump asserted that his electoral victory over Kamala Harris was the decisive factor preventing Russia from seizing all of Ukraine. Trump argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin, viewing Ukraine as “the apple of his eye,” would have captured the entire country had the 2024 election produced a different outcome.

The president linked Putin’s strategic timing to the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he described as “one of the greatest embarrassments” in American history. “He saw what happened in Afghanistan and said, ‘Wow, this is my chance,'” Trump stated, while maintaining that Putin now seeks peace and respects his leadership. When pressed about potential cuts to Ukrainian military aid without a peace deal, Trump declined specifics, calling it a “big, fat secret” to preserve negotiation leverage.

These remarks follow Trump’s Monday warning that Ukraine faces imminent defeat against Russia’s “big war machine.” Reports suggest ongoing US-Russia negotiations may propose recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, freezing conflict lines, and blocking NATO membership for Ukraine—terms Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously rejected. The potential deal could also initiate phased sanctions relief for Moscow.

Analysts note Trump’s comments reflect his consistent narrative of personal diplomacy as the key to resolving the conflict, even as they risk undermining Ukraine’s bargaining position. The administration has yet to confirm specific terms of the proposed agreement, which would represent a significant geopolitical shift if implemented.