On his show Monday, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith argued that Democratic presidents bear more responsibility for the circumstances leading to the Russia-Ukraine war than President Donald Trump.
Stephen A. noted that Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 under Joe Biden, annexed Crimea in 2014 under Barack Obama, and pointed to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum signed by Bill Clinton as part of the backdrop to today’s conflict.
Facts.
“[W]e ain’t gon’ act like [Trump] caused this now. It’s Democrats in office. It was Biden in office when a full-fledged war against Ukraine took place — courtesy of Russia’s instigation — no matter what they try to say to Trump,” Smith said. “It was Russia that invaded Crimea — and that was under the Obama administration! It was Clinton in office when you made a deal that disarmed the Ukraine — and therefore weakened them — leaving them dependent on the United States!”
Under the memorandum, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., United Kingdom and Russia.
“And now here they are having to beg for support that they’re owed because of what we promised them as a nation! We promised them this! You owe it to the Ukraine, Ukrainians,” Smith continued. “You absolutely do. I’m not saying I like it. I’m not saying I like spending billions of our taxpayer dollars to them. That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is promises made are supposed to be promises kept. You promised them, America!”
Watch the clip below:
🚨NEW: Stephen A. Smith *BLAMES DEMS* for Russia-Ukraine War🚨
"We ain't gon' act like [Trump] caused this now. It's Democrats in office."
"It was Biden in office when a full-fledged war against Ukraine took place — courtesy of Russia's instigation — no matter what they try to… pic.twitter.com/xC5iO3wJIQ
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) August 19, 2025
At a joint press conference in Alaska on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the war could have been avoided if Trump had been in office.
“I would like to remind you that in 2022, during the last contact with the previous administration, I tried to convince my previous American colleague that the situation should not be brought to the point of no return when it would come to hostilities,” Putin said. “I said it quite directly back then, that it’s a big mistake.”
“Today, when President Trump is saying that if he was the President back then, there would be no war, and I’m quite sure that it would indeed be so,” he added. “I can confirm that.”
🚨 BREAKING: Putin CONFIRMS he would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 if Trump were in office instead of Biden.
“President Trump said that if he was the President back then, there will be no war … I can confirm that.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 15, 2025
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