News is knowledge, Knowledge is news /

//Fact-Check: Did Ukraine Start the War with Russia, as Trump Claims?//

As the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, former U.S. President Donald Trump has revived a misleading claim about the origins of the war. Trump’s assertion that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “started” the war has ignited strong reactions from both Ukrainian officials and global leaders. But does this claim hold up to scrutiny? Let’s examine the facts.

President Donald Trump has traded barbs with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the US-Russia talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 19, 2025

Trump’s Controversial Statement

During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, 2025, Trump suggested that Ukraine bore responsibility for the ongoing conflict. Dismissing concerns that Ukraine had been left out of recent U.S.-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Trump stated:

“You’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago – you should have never started it, you could have made a deal.”

This claim contradicts overwhelming evidence that Russia launched an unprovoked attack against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Strong Backlash from Ukraine and Allies

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy quickly refuted Trump’s statement, saying that the former president “lives in this disinformation space.”

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also countered Trump’s claim on social media, writing:

“Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The road to peace must be built on the truth.”

Meanwhile, Trump doubled down, posting on Truth Social that Zelenskyy is “very low in Ukrainian polls” and labeling him a “dictator without elections.” However, recent polling from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicates that 57% of Ukrainians still trust Zelenskyy—though down from 90% in May 2022, this figure has remained steady in the past year. Notably, Ukrainian law prohibits elections during a state of martial law, which is still in effect due to the war.

What Really Happened in February 2022?

The timeline of events clearly shows that Russia was the aggressor in this war. On February 24, 2022, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

• Massive military buildup: In the weeks leading up to the invasion, the U.S. and NATO allies warned of a large Russian military buildup along Ukraine’s borders, with intelligence reports estimating 190,000 Russian troops stationed near Ukraine.

• Surprise attack: At 6:00 AM Moscow time, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation,” and within hours, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine while missile strikes targeted major cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv.

• Mass displacement and casualties: The invasion resulted in millions of Ukrainians fleeing their homes, thousands of civilian casualties, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.

Despite overwhelming evidence, Russia has attempted to justify its actions with baseless claims. Putin has repeatedly argued that Ukraine is not a real country and accused the Ukrainian government of committing “genocide” in eastern regions—claims that have been widely debunked.

How Did This False Claim Originate?

The idea that Ukraine provoked the war is rooted in Russian propaganda.

• Putin’s narrative: Since as early as 2008, Putin has insisted that Ukraine is not a legitimate nation. In a 5,000-word essay published in 2021, he falsely argued that Ukraine occupies “historically Russian lands” and accused the West of manipulating Ukraine into an anti-Russian stance.

• Pretext for war: To justify the invasion, Putin claimed that Ukraine was committing genocide against ethnic Russians and suggested that NATO was plotting against Russia.

• Western scholars debunking myths: More than 140 historians and political scientists signed an open letter denouncing Putin’s claims as “factually wrong, morally repugnant, and deeply offensive.”

The Verdict: Trump’s Claim is False

The facts are clear: Russia, not Ukraine, initiated the war in February 2022. Trump’s statement is not only inaccurate but also echoes long-standing Russian propaganda aimed at shifting blame for the conflict.

For a lasting peace, it is essential to base discussions on historical truth rather than misinformation. As international efforts to end the war continue, ensuring accountability for the war’s origins remains a priority.