The US president said Putin wasnt able to completely take over the country due to his victory against Harris

US President Donald Trump believes that his leadership is the sole reason why Russia has not taken control of Ukraine.

In an interview with ABC News on Tuesday, Trump suggested that Putin viewed Ukraine as "the apple of his eye" and intended to seize the entire country, but never had the chance to accomplish the task due to his election victory over Kamala Harris in November.

"I think if I didn't win the election, he would have gotten all of Ukraine. I think he would have taken all of Ukraine," the US president said.

Trump said the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 - which he blamed on the actions of a "group of losers" in the administration of former President Joe Biden - gave Putin the opening he needed when it came to Ukraine.

"He saw what happened in Afghanistan. He said, 'Wow, this is my chance,'" he noted. "It was one of the greatest embarrassments of - of our lifetimes but maybe in the history of our country."

When asked whether he believes Putin wants peace, Trump responded in the affirmative. He then added, "Let's say, he respects me. And I believe because of me he's not gonna take over the whole [Ukraine] - but his decision, his choice would be to take over all of Ukraine."

Meanwhile, Trump refused to answer whether the US would cut off military aid to Ukraine if no peace deal is reached. "I want to leave that as a big, fat secret, because I don't want to ruin a negotiation," he explained.

Trump's comments came after he suggested on Monday that Ukraine would be "crushed very shortly" in the face of pressure from Russia, which he called "a big war machine."

The US president's remarks come as Washington and Moscow continue direct talks aimed at reaching a negotiated end to the Ukraine conflict, with both sides praising the engagement as productive.

According to multiple media reports, a peace agreement proposed by Washington includes US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, as well as a "freezing" the conflict along the current front line and acknowledgment of Moscow's control over large parts of the four former Ukrainian regions which voted to join Russia.

The deal would also reportedly prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and initiate a phased removal of sanctions imposed on Russia. While Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has consistently ruled out any territorial concessions to Moscow, Trump suggested that he was willing to give up Kiev's claim to Crimea, which voted to become part of Russia in 2014.

(RT.com)