US President Donald Trump said he was "a little sarcastic" when he repeatedly said that he would settle the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours - and that even before he took office, BTA reported, citing the Associated Press.
The Republican billionaire was asked to comment on the promise - made repeatedly during the election race, in an interview with the show Full Measure, at a time when his administration is still trying to reach a solution 54 days into his second term.
"I was a little sarcastic when I said it," Trump said in a video excerpt from the interview, with the entire conversation to be broadcast tomorrow. "What I mean is, I will settle this issue, and I will settle it successfully."
It was a rare admission from Trump, who often makes exaggerated claims, the Associated Press noted. In May 2023, the Republican said the following during a discussion hosted by CNN: "They are dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I will make it happen - I will do it in 24 hours".
"This is a war that cries out to be settled. I will settle it even before I become president," Trump said during a debate in September with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. "If I win - if I am elected president, what I will do is talk to both of them. I'll bring them together."
The Republican has made that claim often during the campaign.
His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire that Ukraine has accepted.
In the interview, Trump was also asked what would happen if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not agree to a ceasefire in the war that began three years ago.
"Bad news for the world because so many people are dying," Trump said. "But I think he will. I really do." I think I know him too well, and I think he will agree."
In a speech last night at the US Justice Department, he pointed out that positive signals were coming from Russia, and reiterated his belief that it would agree to conclude an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.