The key facts
- Ex-intelligence officer told WP that Trump considers Russia the stronger side in the conflict
- According to him, in the long term Trump favors Putin over Zelensky
- Trump previously stated that Russia, as a more populous country, has an advantage in manpower losses
WP source on Trump's views
A former senior US intelligence official told The Washington Post that US President Donald Trump does not believe in Ukraine's victory over Russia and, in the long term, favors Russian President Vladimir Putin over Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the newspaper's source, Trump is convinced of Russia's superiority and believes that Ukraine will not be able to achieve military success. The ex-intelligence officer believes this perception persists regardless of periodic changes in relations between Washington and Kyiv.
Quote from the source
“Deep down, he has a firm conviction that Ukraine will not be able to win this war, that Russia is bigger, Russia is stronger, and Russia will crush Ukraine,” the outlet's source emphasized.
Trump previously assessed the demographic factor
Earlier, US President Donald Trump assessed the demographic capabilities of Russia and Ukraine against the backdrop of the conflict. According to him, both countries are suffering manpower losses, but Russia, as a more populous state, has an advantage over Ukraine in this respect. Trump also noted that Russia, unlike Ukraine, is a great power.
