### Trump Criticizes Ukraine's Resistance, Suggests Concessions to Russia

In a recent speech in North Carolina, former President Donald Trump portrayed Ukraine as ravaged and desolate, causing a stir over his potential approach to negotiations should he regain office. Trump suggested that Ukraine should have reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the February 2022 invasion, arguing that even "the worst deal would've been better than what we have now."

Trump, who has consistently criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, has often asserted that Russia would not have invaded if he were president and vows to end the war if re-elected. However, his latest comments delve deeper into his views on the conflict, which he outlined more extensively than before. During the speech, Trump reflected on Ukraine's current state, referring to the country as "demolished" and its people as "dead," raising questions about what concessions he might support in future negotiations.

Trump’s comments come shortly after a debate where he refused to explicitly state whether he desired a Ukrainian victory. Additionally, he praised Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union, citing their historical involvement in wars. He began his critique by referencing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent remarks. Zelenskyy, attending the United Nations General Assembly in the U.S., had described Trump’s running mate JD Vance as "too radical" and questioned Trump’s ability to end the war.

Responding to Zelenskyy's criticisms, Trump stated, "It's something we have to have a quick discussion about because the president of Ukraine is in our country and he's making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me." Trump then depicted Ukraine as a nation beyond repair, with limited bargaining power due to significant population losses and devastation.

"Any deal - the worst deal - would've been better than what we have now," Trump remarked. He suggested that a pre-invasion agreement, even a poor one, would have spared lives and infrastructure. He added, "What deal can we make? It's demolished. The people are dead. The country is in rubble."

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is appealing to the White House with his plan for victory, seeking approval to use long-range Western weapons against Russian targets. Despite Ukraine's surprising resilience against Russian forces, the war has inflicted severe losses, leaving the nation severely disadvantaged in any potential peace talks.

Trump laid responsibility for the ongoing conflict on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, criticizing their support for Ukraine's defense. He argued that their backing "egged it all on" and accused Biden of exacerbating the situation by not pressing Ukraine to cede territory. "Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy money and munitions like no country has ever seen before," he asserted.

Although Trump refrained from denouncing Putin's motives for the invasion, he implied that the conflict would not have erupted under his leadership while adding, "He's no angel," in reference to Putin.