President Donald Trump shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Donald Trump once again repeated his favourite Kremlin talking point as the prospects of ending the war in Ukraine seem as far away as ever.

The US president suggested that Kyiv had started the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of its neighbour more than three-and-a-half years ago.

Speaking in the White House, Trump said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zalenskyy was “always looking to purchase missiles” from America.

He said: “Listen, when you start a war, you gotta know you can win a war. You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.”

Trump on President Zelensky:

“He's always looking to purchase missiles. Listen, when you start a war, you gotta know you can win a war. You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times........

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