Thu Feb 20 11:58:28 UTC 2025: ## Trump Falsely Claims Zelenskyy Started Ukraine War, Igniting International Outrage

**Washington D.C. -** Amidst ongoing peace initiatives and the approaching third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, former US President Donald Trump has sparked international condemnation by falsely claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responsible for starting the war.

Trump’s assertion, made during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, directly contradicts established facts and historical evidence documenting Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. He stated that Zelenskyy “should have ended it three years ago…you should have never started it,” ignoring the overwhelming evidence of a premeditated Russian military offensive.

This statement has drawn sharp rebukes from Ukraine and its allies. Zelenskyy himself dismissed Trump’s remarks as existing “in this disinformation space.” Former Vice President Mike Pence directly refuted Trump’s claim on social media, stating that Russia launched an “unprovoked and brutal invasion.”

Trump’s comments echo long-standing Russian propaganda that seeks to shift blame for the conflict. This narrative, widely debunked by international observers and experts, has been repeatedly used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to justify the invasion. Putin’s justification for the war—a “special military operation” to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine—rests on fabricated claims about Ukrainian aggression and genocide.

The reality, supported by extensive news coverage, video evidence, and United Nations reports, is that Russia launched a massive military operation, involving a 190,000-strong force, into Ukraine without provocation. This followed weeks of escalating military maneuvers along the Ukrainian border.

Trump’s recent statement, experts say, is a “distillation of these Russian talking points,” further fueling the international controversy surrounding his remarks. The White House has yet to respond to requests for evidence supporting Trump’s assertion. The consensus among international observers remains that Russia bears sole responsibility for initiating the war.

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