Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a concert at the Hanoi Opera House on June 20, 2024.
Gavriil Grigorov | AFP | Getty Images
There appears to be an additional presence on stage with Democratic US President Joe Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump at CNN's election debate on Thursday night: Vladimir Putin
The Russian leader was called out nearly a dozen times during 90 minutes of verbal jabs over domestic and foreign policy between the candidates. Both have navigated the White House's relationship with the Kremlin for their respective mandates, sharing very different views of the Russian leader.
Trump – who has denied accusations that Moscow interfered on his behalf in the 2016 election – claimed that Putin would back away from the conflict if he respected the leadership of the opposing global superpowers.
“With respect to Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president who knew — and Putin respected him, and he would never do that — he would never have invaded Ukraine,” Trump said, according to a transcript of the debate quoted by CNN.
Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky “the greatest salesman ever” and again criticized the extent of U.S. financial support for Kyiv throughout the conflict. Two months ago, Washington approved a foreign aid bill that allocated about $60 billion to the war-torn country.
“I will settle that war between Putin and Zelensky as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I will settle that war,” Trump said, without giving any details.
Trump, however, said Putin's latest demands for peace talks — which include the withdrawal of Kyiv's forces from Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Russia — were “unacceptable.”
In a separate pledge, Trump pledged to secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia in March 2023 and now faces trial on espionage charges.
“I will release him very quickly, as soon as I take office, before I take office,” Trump said, noting that Putin “is likely asking for billions of dollars in exchange for the journalist.” The Russian leader had previously indicated his interest in a possible prisoner exchange for Gershkovich, and not in financial compensation.
Zelensky had earlier called Trump's claim that he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours “very dangerous” and appeared wary of the Republican candidate's potential return to the White House.
“He wants all of Ukraine.”
In keeping with the frosty relations between the Kremlin and his administration, Biden has taken a cooler tone when describing Putin.
“The truth is that Putin is a war criminal. He has killed thousands and thousands of people. He has made one thing clear, which is that he wants to re-establish what was part of the Soviet empire, not just a piece of it, he wants the whole thing.” Ukraine,” Biden said. In addition to its four illegal annexations since the 2022 invasion, Russia also previously took control of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
“Do you think he will stop there? Do you think he will stop… if he takes over Ukraine? What do you think will happen to Poland? What do you think will happen to Belarus? What do you think will happen to NATO countries?” Biden asked.
The prospect of potential escalation of the conflict in Europe has long been a reason for NATO's military support for non-member Ukraine, with Finland and Sweden abandoning their long-standing neutrality to join the alliance. Russia, in turn, pointed to neighboring Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO as a threat to its security and one of the reasons behind its military action.
In response to Trump's accusations that the disrespect of Biden by leaders such as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and Putin will lead the United States into “World War III,” the current president responded, saying: “What would happen if, in fact, Putin continues to join NATO?” North Atlantic? An attack on one side is an attack on all. You want to start the nuclear war that he keeps talking about.. See what happens next.
Biden also criticized his opponent's involvement in the Ukraine war, saying Trump “encouraged (Putin): Do what you want.”
In 2022, Trump praised Putin's “genius” strategy for invading Ukraine, calling the Kremlin leader a “very smart guy” who he “knows very well,” NBC News reported.
CNBC reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministries. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the Kremlin would not comment on the debate between Biden and Trump because it is an internal US matter, according to Reuters.
Does Putin prefer Biden?
Putin has rarely commented on the fate of the US elections, vowing to “work with any American leader,” but he has fleetingly expressed his preference for Biden to take the top job.
“(Biden) is more experienced and more predictable,” he said in February. “He's an 'old school' politician.”
