Former President Donald Trump has frequently claimed that the war in Ukraine “would never have happened” if he were still in office — a statement he has repeated throughout his 2024 campaign and beyond [1]. More than once, he has promised that he could end the war “within 24 hours” [2], presenting himself as uniquely capable of resolving a brutal conflict that has eluded diplomatic solutions for over two years.
These assertions may appeal to political instinct or partisan loyalty, but they collapse under scrutiny. The war in Ukraine is not a simple misunderstanding between two parties, nor is it the kind of conflict that bends to bluster. It is a complex geopolitical crisis rooted in years of Russian aggression, Ukrainian resistance, NATO deterrence, and broader questions about sovereignty, democracy, and international order.
This week’s news only underscores that complexity. Just days ago, hostilities escalated between India and Pakistan — two nuclear-armed neighbors with a long history of conflict over Kashmir [3]. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, both countries resumed strikes shortly thereafter. In the midst of this, Trump offered to mediate between the two nations, a move welcomed by Pakistan but largely ignored by India [4].
It’s hard not to notice the irony. Trump, who has repeatedly criticized President Biden as “weak” on foreign policy and painted himself as a global peacemaker, now faces a real-time test of that narrative. The India-Pakistan conflict has no easy solution — just like Ukraine — and Trump's prior record offers little reason to believe he possesses the diplomatic finesse required for either.
Yes, Trump did help secure the recent release of the last American hostage held in Gaza — a positive development [5]. But to portray that outcome as proof of a broader diplomatic skill set is premature, especially when prior peace efforts under his administration often involved sidelining allies, embracing autocrats, or pursuing headlines rather than long-term outcomes.
There is a deeper lesson here: international conflicts aren’t stopped by slogans or campaign promises. They are solved, if they are solved at all, through coalitions, negotiation, pressure, patience, and strategic leverage — not unilateral declarations of what “would have” happened. As the world continues to grapple with overlapping crises, we should evaluate foreign policy not by bravado, but by results.
🔗 References
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CNN – Trump claims war in Ukraine would not have happened if he were president
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The Independent – Trump repeats claim he could end Ukraine war ‘in 24 hours’
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AP News – India, Pakistan trade airstrikes over Kashmir as ceasefire fails
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Reuters – Trump offers to mediate Kashmir conflict as hostilities escalate
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AP News – Hamas releases last living American hostage in Gaza