Donald Trump has publicly supported Russia's president Vladimir Putin after previously denying any association with Russia.

"So now, after more than a decade of pretending that he is not associated with Russia and that he would honor the U.S. national security position of support for Ukraine and our European allies, Trump is openly backing Russia’s president Vladimir Putin. Asked today by a reporter about concerns that his dropping of sanctions against Russian oil yesterday would funnel money to Putin’s war on Ukraine, Trump blamed Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky for prolonging the war:…" https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-10-2026-saturday

October 10, 2026 So now, after more than a decade of pretending that he is not associated with Russia and that he would honor the U.S. national security position of support for Ukraine and our European allies, Trump is openly backing Russia’s president Vladimir Putin…. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-10-2026-saturday

"So now, after more than a decade of pretending that he is not associated with Russia and that he would honor the U.S. national security position of support for Ukraine and our European allies, Trump is openly backing Russia’s president Vladimir Putin." [Heather Cox Richardson] https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-10-2026-saturday