Waltz sidesteps questions on Trump’s views of Putin and his role in the war

Published February 20, 2025 3:31pm ET



President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz repeatedly sidestepped questions about the president’s views of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his culpability for the war in Ukraine during Thursday’s briefing.

The former Florida congressman was asked whom the president believes is “more responsible for the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” and whether Trump, who called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” earlier this week, also believed Putin was one.

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