WATCH: “I Can Confirm That” – Putin Agrees that War with Ukraine Would Have Never Happened if Trump Were President, Says Biden was Uncooperative

| Published August 16, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday confirmed what President Trump has been saying for years now: The war between Russia and Ukraine would have never even started if it weren’t for Biden.

Putin Agrees: “The War Would’ve Never Happened” Under Trump

In a highly watched press conference following a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, where President Trump and President Putin met on August 15, 2025, Putin made a striking endorsement of Trump’s long-standing position.

• Putin’s words:
  “Today, President Trump is saying that if he was the President back then, there would be no war, and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so,” he told reporters, adding, “I can confirm that.”

• Context and framing:
  Putin claimed that he had tried to warn the Biden administration in 2022 about the growing risk—but that those attempts failed to prevent escalation. He emphasized it was “a big mistake” that the situation wasn’t stopped before becoming irreversible.

How Other Outlets Reported It

• The Guardian (via live blog):
  Noted that Putin “suggested the Ukraine war might not have occurred if Donald Trump had been US president,” aligning with Trump’s claims.

• AFP-linked coverage:
  Putin echoed Trump’s assertion that “the full-scale war … would not have happened had Trump been the US president,” and said he agreed with it.

Analysis: What It Means (and What It Doesn’t)

1. A Highly Symbolic Statement, Not a Policy Breakthrough

Putin’s affirmation is a powerful rhetorical win for Trump—highlighting mutual agreement on this key talking point—even though no substantive peace deal or policy shift resulted from the summit.

2. A Critique of the Biden Administration

Putin’s remarks implicitly cast Biden’s administration as uncooperative—or at least ineffective—in preventing the 2022 Russian invasion, reinforcing a narrative that better leadership might have averted the conflict.

3. A Wake-Up Call for Skeptics

Experts and Ukrainian officials warned that peace must involve Ukraine—not just U.S. or Russian leaders—and emphasized the danger of sidelining Kyiv in favor of headline-making bilateral gestures.

Implications of Putin’s Statement

1. Strengthens Trump’s Foreign Policy Narrative

• Trump has long claimed that his presidency deterred wars through strength and unpredictability.

• Putin’s public agreement bolsters that claim, lending weight from the very adversary involved.

• This could influence U.S. domestic politics, especially among voters who view foreign policy and peace as key issues.

2. Undermines the Biden Administration’s Legacy

• By saying he tried to warn Biden’s team but was ignored, Putin implies the war was preventable but mishandled.

• This narrative frames Biden as diplomatically weak or negligent in crisis management.

• It could damage Biden’s international reputation and credibility with allies.

3. Signals Russia’s Diplomatic Strategy

• Putin’s agreement may not just be about Trump—it’s also a way to drive a wedge between U.S. political factions.

• By praising Trump and criticizing Biden, Putin positions himself as more open to talks with a Republican-led White House.

• This could embolden Russia to stall or complicate ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Ukraine and NATO.

4. Potential Pressure on NATO and Europe

• European allies may feel greater anxiety about U.S. political divisions impacting their security.

• If Trump returns to office, NATO cohesion could shift, with some members fearing a U.S.-Russia rapprochement at their expense.

• Putin’s statement plays into long-standing European concerns about U.S. reliability.

5. Impact on Ukraine

• Ukraine risks being sidelined in U.S.-Russia talks, as Putin and Trump emphasize what “could have been” instead of Kyiv’s sovereignty.

• Ukrainian leaders are likely to push back, reminding the world that peace cannot be brokered without them.

• This could complicate Ukraine’s relationships both with Washington and European capitals.

6. Information War Dimension

• Putin’s statement is not only diplomatic—it’s also propaganda.

• It reinforces Russia’s domestic narrative that the war was “provoked” by Western inaction and missteps.

• For international audiences, it plants doubt about whether Biden missed a chance to prevent conflict.

 Overall Takeaway:

Putin’s agreement that the Ukraine war “would have never happened” under Trump is more than a passing remark—it is a political weapon and diplomatic signal. By affirming Trump’s narrative, Putin not only strengthens Trump’s claim of deterrence but also casts the Biden administration as ineffective and unresponsive. This framing deepens U.S. political divides, pressures NATO allies who fear instability from Washington’s shifting leadership, and risks sidelining Ukraine’s voice in future negotiations.

Ultimately, while the statement carries symbolic weight, it does not change battlefield realities or secure peace. Instead, it highlights how global conflicts are increasingly shaped not only by military strategies but also by the power of political narratives—with Russia deliberately inserting itself into America’s domestic debate.

SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – WATCH: “I Can Confirm That” – Putin Agrees that War with Ukraine Would Have Never Happened if Trump Were President, Says Biden was Uncooperative

THE NEW YORK POST – Putin says there would be no War with Ukraine if Trump was President, Says Biden was Uncooperative at the time of invasion