Donald Trump likes to point out that Putin is pursuing his offensive policy toward Ukraine -- the annexation of Crimea and a full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- by during the Democratic Obama and Biden administrations, suggesting it would not have happened if he were in the White House. And Putin respects me, says former President Trump, that's why Ukraine's borders have not changed under his rule. Now Trump, who is running an active election campaign, promises to end the Russian-Ukrainian war within 24 hours if he re-enters the White House.
What kind of move is this on the part of Vladimir Putin in relation to the USA and the upcoming presidential elections in October, reflects BBC correspondent Grigor Atanesyan in his material.
"When Trump was president, Russia took nothing," the Republican said recently, adding that "Russia was afraid of him,", though attributing the words to Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán.
Neither Moscow nor Kiev are enthusiastic about this rhetoric. "The Ukrainian crisis cannot be resolved in one day", answered the Russian plenipotentiary envoy to the UN.
However, the Republican leader continues to brag about his special relationship with Vladimir Putin. Especially for the American journalist Evan Gershkovich has repeatedly boasted that he will be released as soon as Trump becomes president.
"Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, will do this for me and no one else, and we will pay nothing for it,", Trump said several times. The Kremlin responded coldly - negotiations on Gershkovich's fate with Donald Trump are not taking place.
It remains unknown whether the Russian leader was offended by the familiarity of his American counterpart. And whether this in any way affected the time chosen for the exchange. But the Biden administration will pose with Americans released from Russian prisons.
It is Kamala Harris who will count bringing her compatriots home as one of her successes, and Trump will hardly dispute that. Putin's apparent willingness to negotiate such a complex international multi-stage agreement with Democrats without waiting for the outcome of the November election will not add weight to the Republican's case for returning to the White House.