US President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to conflate the Russian war in Ukraine with ongoing US military action against Iran when he said that “may be they are on a similar time-table.“When asked which conflict might conclude first, Trump offered an uncertain response. “I don’t know. Maybe they’re on a similar timetable,” he said, before making a striking claim: “I think Ukraine, militarily, they’re defeated.”The remarks came during what was intended to be a press interaction with the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission. However, the topic shifted to global conflicts, focusing on the two defining crises of his second term—Russia’s war in Ukraine and the US-led campaign targeting Tehran.“They had 159 ships. Every ship is underwater… Every one of their planes has been shot down or has been decimated. They have missiles, about 82% are gone, and they have drones, and most of them are gone,” said Trump, on Ukrainian naval and air losses that his remarks appear to resemble what he has said in the past on Iran.The comments come at a sensitive diplomatic juncture. Earlier in the day, Trump held a ‘very good conversation’ with Vladimir Putin, during which the Russian President offered to assist with the Iran conflict. Trump replied saying he would prefer that they focus instead on ending the war in Ukraine.“We had a good talk, I’ve known him a long time,” said Trump, suggesting ‘a little bit of a ceasefire’ in the war with Ukraine. “And I think he might do that,” Trump said, then asked reporters whether Putin had already announced a ceasefire.Trump said Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but “I said I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.. I said, before you help me, I want to end your war,” said Trump.
