Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the crisis in Ukraine might have been avoided if Donald Trump had won the 2020 election, agreeing with Trump’s assertion that the war wouldn’t have happened under his leadership.

Putin also echoed Trump’s claim about the election being “stolen.”

Trump has previously said he could end the war in a day and suggested that Ukraine’s President Zelensky wants peace talks.

Putin expressed openness to negotiations, saying Russia is ready to discuss the Ukrainian issue, CNN has reported.

However, Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Putin of attempting to manipulate Trump’s desire for peace to further Russia’s goals.

Written by B.C. Begley