Russian President Vladimir Putin has reignited a contentious debate by claiming the 2020 US presidential election was “stolen” from Donald Trump. He suggested that a fair outcome, with Trump retaining the presidency, might have prevented the Ukraine conflict. These remarks, aired during an interview with Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on January 24, have added fuel to ongoing controversies surrounding the legitimacy of the 2020 election and the geopolitical repercussions of US leadership changes.

Putin’s assertions align with Trump’s repeated claims that the election was “rigged.” Trump has steadfastly maintained that he won the popular vote but was denied victory due to widespread voter fraud, a claim dismissed by numerous court rulings and independent investigations. Despite these rejections, the narrative persists among Trump’s supporters and has become a rallying cry for his political movement.

In his interview, Putin reflected on the hypothetical scenario of Trump’s second term. “I cannot disagree with him that if he had been president, if his victory hadn’t been stolen in 2020, perhaps the crisis in Ukraine that arose in 2022 wouldn’t have happened,” he said. Putin’s comments suggest that he perceives Trump’s approach to international relations, particularly with Russia, as markedly different from that of President Joe Biden.

Putin’s relationship with Trump has long been the subject of scrutiny and speculation. Critics argue that Trump’s presidency was characterized by a lenient stance toward Russia, citing his hesitance to criticize Putin publicly and his administration’s withdrawal........

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