President Trump has stated his desire to be remembered as a “peacemaker,” emphasizing his dedication to resolving military conflicts, particularly the situation in Ukraine.
The former US president told a large audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday that he hopes history will remember him as a “peacemaker.” He reiterated his pledge to end military conflicts, with a focus on the Ukraine crisis.
Speaking at CPAC, which was convened to celebrate his first month in office, Trump stated his intention to swiftly resolve the Ukraine conflict, asserting that he possesses “the power to end this war” in order “to save lives.”
“It’s my hope that my greatest legacy will be as a peacemaker, not a conqueror, I don’t want to be a conqueror,” Trump said.
This statement mirrored his inaugural address, in which he expressed his wish to be remembered as a “peacemaker and unifier,” further suggesting that a nation’s strength should be evaluated by its ability to end or prevent wars, rather than win them.
The remark appeared to allude to his predecessor, Joe Biden, who allocated billions to arming Kiev and significantly increased weapon supplies to Ukraine towards the end of his term.
Trump has consistently held Biden responsible for the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, arguing that it would not have occurred had he remained in office. He has stated that Biden’s comments regarding Kiev’s potential NATO membership were a crucial provocation that directly fueled the conflict.
At CPAC, Trump also indicated his belief that “we are pretty close” to reaching a deal on Ukraine. These remarks come amid heightened US-Russia discussions aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Saturday that the Trump administration is dedicated to continuing discussions with both sides and remains optimistic about the possibility of a peace agreement being reached “this week.”
This development follows high-level discussions between US and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia last week. The meeting, the first direct attempt by both countries to normalize relations after almost three years of hostility under the Biden administration, concentrated on restoring bilateral ties and resolving the Ukraine conflict. Notably, Ukrainian and EU representatives were excluded from these negotiations.
Both Moscow and Washington have lauded the talks in Riyadh, an initiative of the Russian and US presidents, as highly productive.
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