Trump calls Russia's war conduct 'fine' hours after strike kills Ukrainian children
Trump says Russia 'hasn't been doing much' in Ukraine on the same day a drone strike killed six people in a Kharkiv Oblast park, drawing accusations of siding with Moscow.
Part of a larger narrative
Oleshky Ceasefire
- Zaporizhzhia aid-centre bombing death toll climbs to 38 as Russia hits hospice, hospital too
- U.S. backs plan to restore Russian gas flows to Europe through Ukraine
- Ukraine hits five Russian refineries in five days; Moscow unleashes mass retaliation
- Russia used Oleshky ceasefire to reinforce troops, Ukraine says, as truce ends
- Oleshky ceasefire holds into third day as aid mission finally enters city
What to know
- Trump's 'Russia has been fine on Ukraine' remark came hours after a drone/missile strike on a Kharkiv Oblast park killed six people, including children, one of them a one-year-old in a stroller.
- Kyiv Independent and social media users responded with lists of Russian atrocities — mass strikes, kidnappings, shelling — that they say contradict Trump's characterization.
- Paul Krugman published an essay, 'The Traitor in Chief,' arguing Trump's political decline has freed him to openly support 'corrupt, murderous dictators.'
- Trump repeated a version of the claim on October 21 while declining to meet Zelensky specifically on Ukraine, saying Russia 'hasn't been doing much' despite ongoing strikes on civilians.
The dispute Some commenters frame Trump's remark as a uniquely monstrous betrayal, while others argue it merely exposes a double standard the US and other powers have long benefited from. · positions read across 53 posts and comments
Trump's comment shows he is betraying Ukraine and effectively acting as an ally or asset of Russia.
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“WHAT. A. MONSTROUS. FUCKING. CUNT.”
@AntiTrumpCanada · X ↗
The remark reflects self-interested motives — money for the rich, political scapegoating, or a cult of personality around Trump.
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“He is making a lot of money for the rich. Rich who controls media... Building cult around him.”
Filias9 · Reddit comment ↗
The outrage should be tempered by historical context — great powers, including the US, have committed comparable atrocities without equivalent condemnation.
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“The latest Russian atrocities in Ukraine pale in comparison to those the US committed in Vietnam and Iraq... the international community doesn't generally apply the same standards to the two.”
Almostfoundit · Reddit comment ↗
Donald Trump U.S. PresidentVolodymyr Zelensky President of Ukraine
Paul Krugman Economist and columnistBill Taylor Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
How it unfolded 7 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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Coverage and social posts keep recirculating the quote
Three days after the original remark, social accounts continued to quote and spread Trump's 'Russia has been fine to Ukraine' line as the story persisted online.
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Donald Trump "Russia has been fine to Ukraine"
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
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He clearly meant two to mean several, also accounting for the four years from 2016-2020. Like yeah, he used the meaning slightly wrongly, but no one except you cares. He clearly did not. The meaning was to push the notion that we've always been at war with Eurasia, and that being Russia's ally is a foregone and time-honored tradition.
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The Traitor in Chief https:// paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the -traitor-in-chief
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Trump declines to meet Zelensky on Ukraine, repeats 'fine' line
Asked whether he would meet Zelensky about Ukraine, Trump said no, reiterating that Russia 'has been fine with Ukraine & hasn't been doing much,' despite continued Russian strikes on civilians.
“Russia has been fine with Ukraine & hasn't been doing much. Seriously they just killed a bunch of civilians knowing Star shield had been cut.”
— @Suzierizzo1 -
Trump was asked by a reporter if he was meeting with President Zelensky about Ukraine & he said no,but I will,but not for Ukraine because Russia has been fine with Ukraine & hasn’t been doing much. Seriously they just killed a bunch of civilians knowing Star shield had been cut.
2 more of the top 3 · 7 posts in this stretch
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Yesterday, Russia launched 217 guided aerial bombs, 8,784 attack drones and carried out 2,607 shelling attacks across # Ukraine All. In. One. day. 13 years of invasion, mass murder, mass kidnappings. These crimes Russia has done to Ukraine that Trump thinks are 'fine' Americans get rid of these republican monsters, # vote them out. https://…
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Suggesting they take their protests to where people in power might get inconvenienced gets you looked at like you're a deranged lunatic. Nah, having a friendly picnic with signs will show em!
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Krugman calls Trump 'The Traitor in Chief'
Paul Krugman argued Trump's political weakness has freed him to indulge support for 'corrupt, murderous dictators' and that he is betraying what America stands for.
“Trump can't and won't make America great again. But he can betray everything America stands for, and he's doing it as we speak.”
— Paul Krugman -
2 outlets The Traitor in Chief
first by Mastodon, 19d ago · also Paul Krugman
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Trump: “Russia, frankly, has treated Ukraine pretty well. They haven’t really done much.” WHAT. A. MONSTROUS. FUCKING. CUNT.
2 more of the top 3 · 10 posts in this stretch
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Paul Krugman writes: "At this point, then, Trump effectively has nothing left to lose on the political front — and his political bankruptcy has freed him to become his worst self, indulging himself by doing what he always wanted to do — which includes supporting corrupt, murderous dictators. Trump can’t and won’t make America great again. But he…
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Disease has many names. Today, I went with Dementia Don. Tomorrow I may be back to Lord Dampnut. But fuck yeah, he is all of that. A disgusting pedophile, rapist and felon. A grifter. A traitor to his own country and allies. A war criminal, actively destroying ecosystems and communities for short term monetary gains. A Russian asset. A coward.
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Kyiv Independent catalogues Russian atrocities Trump called 'fine'
The outlet published a list of Russian actions in Ukraine — including mass drone and missile barrages, shelling and abductions — that it says Trump's comment glossed over.
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Some White house insider from his previous term told how he dreamed of killing and maiming of people demonstrating against him. As a narcissist, everything what he does is good and so people opposing it are bad so to annihilate them is good and moral again. Met personally many people like that. Ukraine is bad country, as it's leadership is not…
2 more of the top 3 · 15 posts in this stretch
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According to Trump, "Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine." Anne Applebaum comments, "Invasion, mass murder, rape, kidnapping of children - all fine" Source: https:// bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lafbr 3dznxdyvgup2umwssht/post/3mybilleuls2p Not to mention that Russia consistently bombs hospitals, schools, children's parks, civilian infrastructure…
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Massive faux-pas to frame it that way and I don't think Trump actually understands the logic, but it does make for an interesting point. The latest Russian atrocities in Ukraine pale in comparison to those the US committed in Vietnam and Iraq and are maybe a bit more severe than those in Afghanistan, but the international community doesn't…
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Viral backlash erupts against Trump's remark
Posts quoting Trump's comment spread rapidly on X and Bluesky, many juxtaposing it against the same-day Kharkiv park strike and accusing Trump of excusing Russian war crimes.
“WHAT. A. MONSTROUS. FUCKING. CUNT.”
— @AntiTrumpCanada -
Trump: “russia, frankly, has treated Ukraine pretty well. They haven’t really done much.” What an absolute piece of shit.
2 more of the top 3 · 13 posts in this stretch
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Today during a press gaggle President Trump told a reporter that Russia has been fine on Ukraine and hasn't been doing much. I've included an excerpt from a PBS News Hour segment from last week. Russia did not abide by a ceasefire on energy targets in Ukraine.
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KYIV INDEPENDENT: What Russia's doing to Ukraine is 'fine,' Trump says https:// kyivindependent.com/what-russi as-doing-to-ukraine-is-fine-trump-says/ "Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much," Trump said, hours after a Russian drone strike in a public park killed six people, including two children. # Ukraine
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Trump says Russia has 'been fine on Ukraine'
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Russia's conduct toward Ukraine has been acceptable and that Moscow 'hasn't been doing much,' remarks made the same day as the deadly Kharkiv Oblast strike.
“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much.”
— Donald Trump -
3 outlets first by HuffPost, 19d ago · also Kyiv Independent, ABC News · read ↗
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2 outlets first by Yahoo News Canada, 18d ago · also HuffPost · read ↗
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“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven’t been doing much,” US President Donald Trump said. Just a couple of hours ago Russia killed one-year-old Angelina in her stroller in a park in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Her mother later died in hospital. An 11-year-old girl
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
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Trump: "Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much."
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❗️ Trump: “Honestly, Russia has behaved reasonably toward Ukraine overall. They haven’t done anything particularly extraordinary” “We are currently negotiating with Putin over Ukraine, so I don’t want to derail the talks in the middle of negotiations.”
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Russian drone strike on Kharkiv Oblast park kills six, including children
A Russian strike hit a public park in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, killing six people including three children; among the dead was a one-year-old girl in a stroller, whose mother later died in hospital.
“a Russian strike on a park in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast today killed six people, including three children.”
— @Osinttechnical
What people are saying 11 voices from 3 sites · best of 53 · verbatim
- Oct 21
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Acc. to # Trump , # Russia "has been fine on Ukraine" and "hasn't been doing much" to the country 👇 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Moscow used to hit # Kyiv mainly at night but now also attacks throughout the day, making the exhausting routine of repeatedly shepherding children in and out of shelters part of daily life. https://www. france24.com/en/live-news/2026…
- Oct 20
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# collapse # Ukraine "At this point, then, Trump effectively has nothing left to lose on the political front — and his political bankruptcy has freed him to become his worst self, indulging himself by doing what he always wanted to do — which includes supporting corrupt, murderous dictators. "And there will be much more of this to come. Trump…
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Trump says Russia “hasn’t been doing much” in Ukraine. Tell that to the families of 764 Ukrainian children killed by Russia. Babies, civilians and innocent people are dying every day under Russian attacks. If this is what Trump calls “not doing much,” he has lost touch with reality. Shameful. https://www. byteseu.com/2469158/ # Ukraine #…
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Paul Krugman: "Why does Trump love Putin and hate Zelenskyy? 1. Trump and his inner circle don’t just love autocrats. They hate democracy and rule of law — which means that they hate America and American values. 2. Putin-worship was widespread on the authoritarian right even before Trump entered the picture, with many celebrating Russia’s…
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https:// paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the -traitor-in-chief . "Why does # Trump love # Putin & hate # Zelenskyy ? ... Zelenskyy gave a blunt answer in a recent # interview ... Trump, he asserted, has an instinctive affinity for # autocrats & the super # wealthy ... I would add... Trump & his inner circle don’t just love autocrats. They hate #…
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And the simple answer is Americans are apathetic brainwashed religious loonie apolitical worker drones. Fully indoctrinated to accept their failing society and shant USA USA USA at anyone that looks around and asks themselves WTF is wrong with a society that has 7 holidays on avg. (sick days count towards these 7 days ofcourse). The real truth is…
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Until you start viewing Trump as a Russian asset. Ask yourself, if Russia succeeded in planting someone in the White House, with the goal of diminishing and destroying American power, but in a way that’s not blatantly obvious, what could be done differently? So far, it’s almost comical how effective Trump has been in destroying the US from within.
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Is this a geopolitical recognition of the "spheres of influence" thinking and Trump justifying Russian aggression to Ukraine as part of the Russian sphere of influence to indirectly justify (future) US aggression towards Canada on a similar Sphere of influence reasoning?
- Oct 19
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Trump says that Russia “frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much." Notably, a Russian strike on a park in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast today killed six people, including three children.
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🥴🤡Honestly speaking, Russia, overall, has behaved adequately toward Ukraine. — Trump
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Trump just now: Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much.