Ukraine Conflict
What is President Trump claiming about the war in Ukraine?
President Trump is claiming he has the power to end the war in Ukraine, stating recently that he thinks 'it's going very well.' However, this claim comes alongside his controversial stance of falsely blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion, rather than acknowledging Russia as the aggressor. This meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov marks the first diplomatic engagement between the US and Russia in three years, raising concerns among European allies, particularly as Ukraine was notably absent from these discussions.
Watch clip answer (00:12m)
ABC News
00:47 - 01:00
Is President Trump's claim that Ukraine is to blame for the war accurate?
President Trump's claim that Ukraine is to blame for the war is categorically false. The reality is that Russia invaded Ukraine, initiating the conflict that continues to this day. This fact is evident in the ongoing situation where Ukrainian cities are still being bombed by Russian forces. The correspondent emphasizes that even as diplomatic talks take place, the violence persists with Russian bombing campaigns targeting Ukrainian cities. This context directly contradicts the narrative that Ukraine bears responsibility for the war.
Watch clip answer (00:11m)ABC News
01:44 - 01:55
What significant diplomatic meeting occurred between the US and Russia, and what was notably missing from this discussion?
The clip describes a high-profile diplomatic meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marking the first such discussion between the two countries in nearly three years. The meeting focused on the war in Ukraine, but notably, Ukrainian representatives were absent from these talks. Adding to the controversy, President Trump made statements appearing to blame Ukraine for the conflict, suggesting they 'should never have started it.' This diplomatic development represents a significant shift in approach to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, with discussions about Ukraine's future happening without Ukrainian participation.
Watch clip answer (00:16m)ABC News
00:00 - 00:16
What significant diplomatic development occurred between the US and Russia regarding the Ukraine war?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held their first high-level meeting in nearly three years, discussing the Ukraine war without Ukrainian representation present. This diplomatic engagement was described as "the first step of a long and difficult journey, but an important one." Concurrently, President Trump claimed he has the power to end the conflict, controversially blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion and stating "I think it's going very well." This diplomatic shift has sparked concerns in Europe about the implications of this new US-Russia dialogue while Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue.
Watch clip answer (00:19m)
ABC News
00:40 - 01:00
Who is responsible for the invasion of Ukraine?
Russia is definitively responsible for invading Ukraine, contrary to President Trump's controversial claims suggesting Ukraine bears responsibility for the conflict. As the foreign policy expert clearly states: 'It was Russia that invaded Ukraine.' This fact is emphasized by the ongoing violence, with the expert noting that even at the time of reporting, Ukrainian cities were continuing to be bombed by Russian forces. The recent meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov represents the first high-level dialogue in nearly three years about the conflict, though Ukraine was notably absent from these discussions.
Watch clip answer (00:06m)ABC News
01:48 - 01:55
What was discussed in the first high-profile meeting between the US and Russia in nearly three years?
In this historic meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the war in Ukraine, marking the first such talks in nearly three years. Notably, Ukrainian officials were not present at these discussions, which focused on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The meeting represents a radical diplomatic shift, occurring alongside controversial statements from President Trump, who claimed Ukraine should 'never have started it' and 'could have made a deal' - despite the fact that Russia was the aggressor who invaded Ukraine. This US-Russia engagement without Ukrainian representation signals a significant departure from previous diplomatic approaches.
Watch clip answer (00:39m)ABC News
00:00 - 00:39