Was being a bit sarcastic on promise to end Ukraine war in 24 hours: Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Friday, 14 March that he was “being a little bit sarcastic” when he repeatedly claimed as a presidential candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war problem solved within 24 hours — and before he even took office.

As any, or a majority of, Indians will know, this officially puts his earlier claim in the category of a jumla.

Trump was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the Full Measure television programme as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term.

“Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that," Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode to air on Sunday. “What I really mean is I'd like to get it settled and, I'll, I think, I think I'll be successful.”

It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims.

At a CNN town hall in May 2023, he said. “They're dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I'll have that done — I'll have that done in 24 hours.”

“That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become President,” Trump said during his September debate with then-vice-president Kamala Harris. “If I win, when I'm President-elect, and what I'll do is I'll speak to one, I'll speak to the other. I'll get them together.” The Republican repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail.

His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a US-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted.

In the interview, Trump was also asked what the plan would be if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire to the war he started three years ago. And his answer was was a masterpiece in the art of evasion.

“Bad news for this world because so many people are dying,” Trump said. "But I think, I think he's going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he's going to agree."

Of course, many people have died and are dying in Gaza too, though Trump seems more inclined to view Gaza as a piece of real estate than the slaughterhouse it really is.

With agency inputs