This report provides a comprehensive, chronologically organized record of public statements made by Donald J. Trump concerning Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation. The scope of this document extends from his early business career through his second term in office (ending circa 2025), as documented in the available source material. The objective is to present an unembellished, factual repository of President Trump's declared positions and personal assessments, intended to serve as a primary source reference for research, policy analysis, and historical documentation. Each entry is dated and sourced to ensure fidelity and verifiability.
Statement: (In an interview with Larry King) “Look at Putin—what he's doing with Russia—I mean, you know, what's going on over there. I mean this guy has done—whether you like him or don't like him—he's doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia period.”
Source: CNN, "Interview With Donald Trump", October 15, 2007. (Transcript URL: https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2007-10-15/segment/01)
Statement: (In a Twitter post regarding the Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow) “Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow - if so, will he become my new best friend?”
Source: Business Insider, "Donald Trump wondered if Putin would be his 'new best friend' in 2013 tweet", July 12, 2017. (URL: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tweet-putin-best-friend-miss-universe-2017-7)
Statement: (In a Twitter post from Moscow) “I just got back from Russia-learned a lot &long last, @MSNBC is not covering my trip to Russia-they don't want you to know the truth! ... We had a great time... I met the top level people, both oligarchs and generals, and top of the government people. I can’t go further than that, but I will tell you that I met the top people, and the relationship was extraordinary.”
Source: VOA News, "Trump Sought, Failed to Secure Lucrative Russia Deals", January 27, 2017. (URL: https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-sought-failed-to-secure-lucrative-russia-deals/3696457.html)
Statement: (On his relationship with Putin) "I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night."
Source: The Washington Post, "Trump’s claim he ‘got to know’ Putin on ‘60 Minutes’", July 16, 2018. (Note: Multiple sources, including this one, reported they were interviewed in different locations for the same program). (URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/07/16/trumps-claim-he-got-know-putin-60-minutes/)
Statement: (At FreedomFest in Las Vegas, responding to Maria Butina's question about sanctions) "'I am visiting from Russia,' Butina said into the mic. 'Ahhhhh, Putin!' Trump interjected... \[Butina asked about continuing sanctions]... Trump suggested he would get rid of them: 'I know Putin, and I'll tell you what, we get along with Putin... I believe I would get along very nicely with Putin. I don't think you'd need the sanctions.'"
Source: The Washington Post, "Before the election, Maria Butina bragged about her ties to the Trump campaign", July 29, 2018. (URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/before-the-election-maria-butina-bragged-about-her-ties-to-the-trump-campaign/2018/07/29/f269383c-91d1-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html)
Statement: (Comparing Putin to Obama) "I will tell you that, in terms of leadership, he’s getting an 'A' and our president is not doing so well. ... \[Putin is] a strong leader. ... I think he's a much stronger leader than our leader, I'll be honest."
Source: CBS News, "Donald Trump praises Vladimir Putin's leadership", September 29, 2015. (URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-praises-vladimir-putins-leadership/)
Statement: (On Putin) "He's running his country and at least he's a leader, unlike what we have in this country."
Source: MSNBC, "Trump praises Putin: 'At least he's a leader'", December 18, 2015. (URL: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/trump-praises-putin-least-hes-leader-msna833891)
Statement: (Reacting to Putin's comment that he was "brilliant and talented") "It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond... I have always felt that Russia and the United States should be able to work well with each other towards defeating terrorism and restoring world peace, not to mention trade and all of the other benefits derived from mutual respect."
Source: CNN, "Putin calls Trump 'brilliant and talented'", December 17, 2015. (URL: https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/vladimir-putin-donald-trump-compliments/index.html)
Statement: (When asked if he would recognize Crimea as Russian territory and lift sanctions) "We’ll be looking at that. Yeah, we’ll be looking."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, "Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election" (Mueller Report), Vol. 2, p. 18. (URL: https://www.justice.gov/storage/report_volume2.pdf)
Statement: (At the Commander-in-Chief Forum, on Putin) "He is a strong leader. ... I mean, say what you want about him, he's a strong leader." (Also: "In that system, he's been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.")
Source: WHYY, "Remember when Matt Lauer was Trump's chump?", November 30, 2017. (URL: https://whyy.org/articles/remember-matt-lauer-trumps-chump/)
Statement: (During a speech in Warsaw, Poland) "We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere, and its support for hostile regimes – including Syria and Iran – and to join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defense of civilization itself."
Source: White House Archives, "Remarks by President Trump to the People of Poland", July 6, 2017. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-people-poland/)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, after his first G20 meeting with Putin in Hamburg) "I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election. He vehemently denied it. I've already given my opinion....."
Source: The American Presidency Project, "Tweets of July 9, 2017", (Tweet dated 11:31 AM, July 9, 2017). (URL: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/tweets-july-9-2017)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, regarding reports of a second, undisclosed conversation with Putin at the G20 dinner in Hamburg) "Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is 'sick.' All G20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, July 19, 2017 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/887463569199575041) (Also cited in VOA News, July 18, 2017: https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-putin-met-twice-at-g20-us-says-2nd-encounter-was-brief-conversation/3950005.html)
Statement: (In a subsequent Twitter post regarding the G20 dinner conversation) "The Fake News is becoming more and more dishonest! Even a dinner arranged for top 20 leaders in Germany is made to look sinister!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, July 19, 2017 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/887465916336140288) (Also cited in The Hindu, July 19, 2017: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-putin-had-second-undisclosed-meeting-at-g20-summit-reports/article62054118.ece)
Statement: (To reporters on Air Force One during APEC summit in Vietnam) "Every time he sees me, he says, 'I didn't do that.' And I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it... I think he's very insulted by it, which is not a good thing for our country."
Source: PBS NewsHour, "How does Trump's Asia trip affect American trade and security?", November 13, 2017. (URL: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-does-trumps-asia-trip-affect-american-trade-and-security)
Statement: (To reporters, on his call with Putin) "I congratulated him on his electoral victory... We had a very good call... We will be meeting in the not-too-distant future to discuss the arms race... We'll also be discussing Ukraine, Syria, North Korea." (Aides had reportedly warned him in briefing materials: "DO NOT CONGRATULATE").
Source: The Washington Post, "Trump congratulates Putin on reelection, against aides’ warnings", March 20, 2018. (URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-congratulates-putin-on-reelection-against-aides-warnings/2018/03/20/a1811a86-2c63-11e8-b0b0-f706877db618_story.html)
Statement: (During a meeting with Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka) "It's a great honor to be with President Putin... We have a very, very good relationship." (When asked by a reporter if he would tell Putin not to meddle in the 2020 election, Trump turned to Putin, smiled, and said): "Don't meddle in the election, please. Don't meddle in the election."
Source: The New York Times, "Trump’s Joking Request to Putin: ‘Don’t Meddle in the Election’", June 28, 2019. (URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/world/asia/trump-putin-g20.html)
Statement: (In the same meeting at the G20) "Get rid of them. Fake news is a great term, isn't it? You don't have this problem in Russia but we do." (Putin, in Russian, responded: "We also have. It is the same.")
Source: The Guardian, "Trump jokes to Putin: 'Get rid of' journalists. 'Fake news'", June 28, 2019. (URL: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/28/trump-putin-g20-summit-journalists-fake-news)
Statement: (Reacting to Putin recognizing two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine) "I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine... Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful... I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper."
Source: The New York Times, "Trump Calls Putin’s Move on Ukraine ‘Genius,’ Then Claims It Wouldn’t Have Happened if He Were President", February 23, 2022. (URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/us/politics/trump-putin-ukraine.html)
Statement: (At a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser) "I mean, he's taking over a country for \$2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart. He's taking over a country — really, a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people — and just walking right in."
Source: CBS News, "Trump's response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine reveals divisions among Republicans", February 25, 2022. (URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-putin-russia-ukraine-invasion-republican-response/)
Statement: (Recalling a conversation with Putin) "I was with Putin. He said, 'I don't like windmills.' I said, 'No, I don't either.' 'They're killing the birds, they're destroying the landscape...' ... I said, 'You know, they're building these windmills all over the place... They're ruining the atmosphere, they're killing the birds.' ... And he looked at me, and he said, 'You have to be a truly stupid person to believe that.'"
Source: Newsweek, "What Trump Has Said About Putin and Wind Turbines", October 28, 2023. (URL: https://www.newsweek.com/what-trump-has-said-about-putin-wind-turbines-1838933) (Original remarks: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-press-gaggle-10-27-23/)
Statement: (In a Truth Social post, regarding a grain deal between Russia and Turkey) "Putin is now doing the 'big grain deal,' a deal that I could have easily made, but Zelenskyy, who is not a 'peacemaker,' refused... Putin is smart, Zelenskyy is not."
Source: Newsweek, "Donald Trump Reacts to Putin's Ukraine Grain Deal With Turkey", September 15, 2024. (URL: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-reacts-putin-ukraine-grain-deal-turkey-1953110)
Statement: (In a Truth Social post about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy) "Zelenskyy is serving as a 'dictator without elections.'... You see the hatred he's got for Putin. That's very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate."
Source: CityNews Halifax, "How Trump backed away from promising to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours", May 1, 2025. (URL: https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/04/19/how-trump-backed-away-from-promising-to-end-the-russia-ukraine-war-in-24-hours/)
Statement: (In a Truth Social post) [Putin is] “not the same man” as he was years ago, adding that “what’s happened to him is very sad.”
Source: The Atlantic, "Trump Called Russia a ‘Paper Tiger’ Because He Believes Putin Is Losing", October 21, 2025. (URL: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/10/donald-trump-russia-paper-tiger/682977/)
Statement: (In his book "The Art of the Deal," regarding a 1986 invitation from the Soviet Ambassador) "I'm talking about building a large luxury hotel, across the street from the Kremlin, in partnership with the Soviet government. They have asked me to go to Moscow in July."
Source: Newsweek, "Trump Considered Business With the Russian Government in 1987, and Newsweek Met Him in Moscow", August 28, 2017. (URL: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-considered-business-russian-government-1987-and-newsweek-met-him-656002)
Statement: (In an interview with Newsweek from Moscow) "Some people at a high level of lifestyle enjoyment want the ultimate hotel. They don't want to have to come to Moscow and sacrifice their lifestyle."
Source: Newsweek, "Trump Considered Business With the Russian Government in 1987, and Newsweek Met Him in Moscow", August 28, 2017. (URL: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-considered-business-russian-government-1987-and-newsweek-met-him-656002)
Statement: (Regarding his preparation for his first trip to the Soviet Union) He "told reporters that he'd read Mikhail Gorbachev's Perestroika to prepare for the trip."
Source: TIME, "What to Know About Donald Trump's 1987 Trip to Moscow", July 14, 2017. (URL: https://time.com/4857431/donald-trump-1987-moscow-trip/)
Statement: (In a phone interview from Moscow) “They really wanted the feeling of Trump Tower in New York.” (He said the Soviets were "talking about building 1,000 rooms, and they’re talking about building it right near or on Red Square.")
Source: VOA News, "Trump Sought, Failed to Secure Lucrative Russia Deals", January 27, 2017. (URL: https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-sought-failed-to-secure-lucrative-russia-deals/3696457.html)
Statement: (To the Los Angeles Times, after returning from Moscow) "The only reason to build a hotel in Moscow would be the prestige."
Source: Medium, "Confused by Trump's Russia Ties? This timeline breaks it down for you", March 21, 2017 (Citing The Los Angeles Times). (URL: https://medium.com/@abbievansickle/timeline-of-trumps-relationship-to-russia-5e78c7e7f480)
Statement: (In a full-page ad in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe, regarding U.S. foreign policy and allies) "For decades, Japan and other nations have been taking advantage of the United States... Why are these nations not paying the United States for the human lives and billions of dollars we are losing to protect their interests?" (The ad implicitly criticized the U.S. for protecting allies while the Soviet Union built its strength).
Source: The New York Times, "That Time Trump Spent Nearly $100,000 on Ads Criticizing U.S. Foreign Policy", September 24, 2015. (Retrospective article showing the ad). (URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/world/americas/that-time-trump-spent-nearly-100000-on-ads-criticizing-us-foreign-policy.html)
Statement: (Regarding his first meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev at a reception in Washington D.C.) "I was very impressed with him... I thought he was a very strong, very smart, and determined man... We got along very well."
Source: New York Daily News, "Trump boasted of meeting Gorbachev in 1987 during Reagan-era summit in D.C.", July 15, 2018. (URL: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-trump-gorbachev-meeting-20180715-story.html)
Statement: (Announcing that Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa, would visit Trump Tower during Gorbachev's three-day stay in New York) He "told reporters that the Russians had called him and said that Gorbachev wanted to tour Trump Tower." (Gorbachev ultimately did not visit).
Source: TIME, "When Donald Trump Tried to Meet With a Russian Leader in the 1980s", October 18, 2016. (URL: https://time.com/4437403/trump-gorbachev-history/)
Statement: (At a news conference in Moscow) He hadn't been "as impressed with the potential of a city as I have been with Moscow" in contrast to other cities he had visited "all over the world." (At the same conference, he announced plans to invest \$250 million in Russia).
Source: VOA News, "Trump Sought, Failed to Secure Lucrative Russia Deals", January 27, 2017. (URL: https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-sought-failed-to-secure-lucrative-russia-deals/3696457.html)
Statement: (To The New Yorker) “We are working on a deal in Moscow... a hotel-office-tower deal... It’s a prime site.” He praised Moscow's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, saying, [Luzhkov] "is getting a lot of credit for cleaning up the city... They’re right, there is a new attitude in Moscow.”
Source: The New Yorker, "Trump Solo", May 19, 1997. (URL: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/05/19/trump-solo)
Statement: (On Boris Yeltsin) "I think Yeltsin is a disaster... Their system is a disaster. Their economy is a disaster. But... you can't just let that country go to pot. It's a very dangerous situation."
Source: The New York Times, "PUBLIC LIVES; Born 흐르는 강물처럼", October 25, 1999. (URL: https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/25/nyregion/public-lives.html)
Statement: (In his book, "The America We Deserve") "We must be determined to keep our friends and be willing to check our enemies. ... I’d be prepared to rapidly deploy a coalition force against Russia if it acted to annex critical U.S. resources or those of our allies."
Source: Trump, Donald J. "The America We Deserve". Renaissance Books, 2000. (Cited in: The Washington Post, "Trump’s 2000 book was a glimpse of the president he’d become", March 23, 2018. URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/23/trumps-2000-book-was-a-glimpse-of-the-president-hed-become/)
Statement: (On Russia's annexation of Crimea) [When asked if he was worried] "Well, I'm not. ... I'm not concerned. And I'm not concerned... frankly, Europe is not concerned... And frankly, Putin, you know, has done an amazing job."
Source: The Daily Beast, "Trump in 2014: 'Putin Has Done an Amazing Job'", August 1, 2016. (URL: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-in-2014-putin-has-done-an-amazing-job)
Statement: (In an interview with Fox News Sunday, regarding the CIA assessment that Russia interfered in the election) “I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it... They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place.”
Source: TIME, "Read the 270 Arguments President Trump Has Made Against the Mueller Investigation", June 7, 2018. (URL: https://time.com/5290531/donald-trump-robert-mueller-russia-investigation-arguments/)
Statement: (In a Twitter post) "Julian Assange said 'a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta' – why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!"
Source: VOA News, "Trump Again Questions Finding That Russia Meddled in US Election", January 4, 2017. (URL: https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-rebukes-find-russia-meddled-in-us-election/3662734.html)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, comparing DNC and RNC cybersecurity) "Somebody hacked the DNC but why did they not have 'hacking defense' like the RNC has and why have they not responded to the terrible things they did and said..."
Source: VOA News, "Trump Again Questions Finding That Russia Meddled in US Election", January 4, 2017. (URL: https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-rebukes-find-russia-meddled-in-us-election/3662734.html)
Statement: (At a press conference) “And I have to say this also, the Democratic National Committee was totally open to be hacked. They did a very poor job. They could've had hacking defense, which we had.”
Source: TIME, "Read the 270 Arguments President Trump Has Made Against the Mueller Investigation", June 7, 2018. (URL: https://time.com/5290531/donald-trump-robert-mueller-russia-investigation-arguments/)
Statement: (At the same press conference) “And I think I get some credit because I told Reince \[Priebus], and Reince did a phenomenal job, but I said I want strong hacking defense. The Democratic National Committee didn't do that.”
Source: TIME, "Read the 270 Arguments President Trump Has Made Against the Mueller Investigation", June 7, 2018. (URL: https://time.com/5290531/donald-trump-robert-mueller-russia-investigation-arguments/)
Statement: (In his first official phone call with Vladimir Putin) He "denounced the New Start treaty... as one of several bad deals negotiated by the Obama administration, saying it favored Russia. When Putin raised the possibility of extending the 2010 accord, Trump paused the call to ask his aides what the treaty was."
Source: The Guardian, "Trump denounced nuclear arms treaty in phone call with Putin – sources", February 9, 2017. (URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/09/trump-putin-call-nuclear-deal-new-start-treaty)
Statement: (On Michael Flynn's resignation for misleading officials about his calls with the Russian ambassador) "The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? ... The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by 'intelligence' like candy."
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, February 14, 2017 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/831478207908839424)
Statement: (During remarks on the USS Gerald R. Ford) "I have total confidence in [Jeff Sessions]. ... I have never met with any Russian officials. I don't know any Russian officials."
Source: C-SPAN, "President Trump Remarks at USS Gerald R. Ford", March 2, 2017. (Video URL: https://www.c-span.org/video/?424853-1/president-trump-delivers-remarks-uss-gerald-r-ford)
Statement: (In an interview with NBC News, regarding his firing of James Comey) "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.'"
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, "Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election" (Mueller Report), Vol. 2, p. 77. (URL: https://www.justice.gov/storage/report_volume2.pdf)
Statement: (In a Twitter post) "Again, the story that there was collusion between the Russians & Trump campaign was fabricated by Dems as an excuse for losing the election."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, "Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election" (Mueller Report), Vol. 2, p. 78. (URL: https://www.justice.gov/storage/report_volume2.pdf)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, regarding his meeting with Lavrov) "We had a very good meeting. We're going to have a lot of success with respect to Syria, and other things, and fighting terrorism. It was a great meeting."
Source: NPR, "Trump Defends 'Absolutely' Sharing 'Facts' With Russians", May 16, 2017. (URL: https://www.npr.org/2017/05/16/528574636/trump-defends-absolutely-sharing-facts-with-russians)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, after the appointment of Robert Mueller as Special Counsel) "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, May 18, 2017 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/865179410910228482)
Statement: (On signing the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act" (CAATSA)) "Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can't even give us HCare!"
Source: Reuters, "Trump signs Russia sanctions bill, blames Congress for bad ties", August 2, 2017. (URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1AI1S3/)
Statement: (To reporters, on the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) "We're going to terminate the treaty and we're going to pull out. ... We'll have to develop those weapons."
Source: SBS News, "Trump to dump 1987 Gorbachev-Reagan nuclear missile treaty", October 21, 2018. (URL: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/trump-to-dump-1987-gorbachev-reagan-nuclear-missile-treaty/n5q6y5xhi)
Statement: (To the Washington Post, regarding Russia's seizure of Ukrainian navy ships in the Kerch Strait) "Based on what happened with the ships and the sailors, maybe I won't have the meeting \[with Putin at the G20]. ... I don't like that aggression. I don't want that aggression at all."
Source: The Guardian, "Putin shrugs off Trump's threat to cancel G20 meeting over Kerch crisis", November 28, 2018. (URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/28/russia-deploy-missiles-crimea-ukraine-tensions)
Statement: (Explaining his decision to cancel the G20 meeting with Putin) "Based on the fact that the ships and the sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting... I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!"
Source: White House Archives, "Statement from the President on his Meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia", December 1, 2018. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-meeting-president-vladimir-putin-russia/)
Statement: (Regarding Paul Manafort) "He was a brave man... He’s a good man, he was a brave man, he went through a lot. And it’s a very sad situation. ... This whole thing is a witch hunt. It’s a terrible thing." (When asked about Russia) "They say there’s no collusion. There is no collusion."
Source: Reuters, "Trump calls ex-aide Manafort 'brave man' for not 'flipping' in Russia probe", December 19, 2018. (URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1OJ08K/)
Statement: (On withdrawing from the INF Treaty) "For far too long, Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with impunity, covertly developing and fielding a prohibited missile system that poses a direct threat to our allies and troops abroad. ... We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other."
Source: White House Archives, "Statement from the President on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty", February 1, 2019. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-intermediate-range-nuclear-forces-inf-treaty/)
Statement: (Responding to reports that Russia was violating the 1987 INF Treaty) "They've been violating it for many years. And I'm not the one that's going to be sitting here and letting them get away with it... We're going to build up our military."
Source: White House Archives, "Remarks by President Trump in Cabinet Meeting", February 13, 2019. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-cabinet-meeting-22/)
Statement: (Reacting to Michael Cohen's testimony) "He lied a lot... but he only said one thing, he said 'no collusion with the Russians.' ... And I was, I was actually impressed that he said that. He said 'no collusion.'"
Source: NPR, "Trump, In Vietnam, Responds To Cohen Testimony: 'He Lied A Lot'", February 27, 2019. (URL: https://www.npr.org/2019/02/27/698715783/trump-in-vietnam-responds-to-cohen-testimony-he-lied-a-lot)
Statement: (On Russia's military presence in Venezuela) "Russia has to get out." (When asked how) "We’ll see. All options are on the table."
Source: Florida Digital Newspaper Library, "The Jewish Press of Tampa Bay," March 29, 2019. (URL: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/09/89/64/05070/03-29-2019.pdf)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, after the Mueller report was submitted) "No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, March 24, 2019 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/1109914978111242240)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, after the redacted Mueller report was released) "I had the right to end the whole Witch Hunt if I wanted. I could have fired everyone... I chose not to. I had the RIGHT to use Executive Privilege. I didn’t! ... NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION."
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, April 18, 2019 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/1118872935832555520)
Statement: (In a Twitter post) "The Mueller Report, despite being written by Angry Democrats and Trump Haters, totally exonerated me. No Collusion, No Obstruction."
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, April 19, 2019 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/1119211246104899584)
Statement: (White House readout of a phone call on April 15th with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Russia) Trump "recognised Field Marshal Haftar's significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources," adding that "the two discussed a shared vision for Libya's transition to a stable, democratic political system."
Source: SBS News, "Libya crisis: Trump speaks with Haftar in sign of US support", April 20, 2019. (URL: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/libya-crisis-trump-speaks-with-haftar-in-sign-of-us-support/q2tdtbqst)
Statement: (After a phone call with Putin) "We had a very good talk. He's not looking at all to get involved in Venezuela, other than he'd like to see something positive happen for Venezuela. And I feel the same way."
Source: Reuters, "Trump says Putin not looking to get involved in Venezuela", May 13, 2019. (URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1SJ1T4/)
Statement: (To reporters, regarding the 2016 DNC hack) "They gave the server to CrowdStrike... which is a company owned by a very wealthy Ukrainian. And I still want tosee that server. ... That’s what I want to see."
Source: PBS NewsHour (AP Fact Check), "AP Fact Check: Trump and his so-they-say accusations", November 24, 2019. (Note: This source identifies CrowdStrike as a U.S. company). (URL: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-and-his-so-they-say-accusations)
Statement: (On Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system) "It's a very tough situation that they're in. And it's a very tough situation that we've been placed in... So, we're looking at it. We'll see what we do. We haven't announced any sanctions."
Source: Reuters, "Trump says he is not planning sanctions on Turkey over Russian S-400s 'right now'", July 29, 2019. (URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1UO29A/)
Statement: (On readmitting Russia to the G7) "I think it's much more appropriate to have Russia in. It should be the G8, because a lot of the things we talk about have to do with Russia."
Source: White House Archives, "Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure", August 21, 2019. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-marine-one-departure-42/)
Statement: (After meeting with Sergey Lavrov) "Just had a very good meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov and representatives of Russia. Discussed many items including Trade, Iran, North Korea, INF Treaty, Nuclear Arms Control, and Election Meddling. Look forward to continuing our dialogue!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, December 10, 2019 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/1204523991216881664)
Statement: (On a call with Putin) "President Trump and President Putin also discussed the global energy market. President Trump and President Putin agreed to work together... on the G20 to drive the global economy forward during the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure energy market stability."
Source: White House Archives, "Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia", March 30, 2020. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/readout-president-donald-j-trumps-call-president-vladimir-putin-russia-033020/)
Statement: (Announcing withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty) "Russia didn't adhere to the treaty. So, until they adhere, we will pull out... There's a very good chance we'll make a new agreement or do something to put that agreement back together."
Source: White House Archives, "Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure", May 21, 2020. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-marine-one-departure-51/)
Statement: (On readmitting Russia to the G7) "I don't feel that as a G7, it properly represents what's going on in the world... It's a very outdated group of countries... I would certainly be in favor of having them back."
Source: Reuters, "Trump says he will postpone G7, wants to invite Russia, other countries", June 1, 2020. (URL: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN23803S/)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, on reports of Russian bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan) "The 'Russian Bounties' story is just another made up by Fake News tale that is told only to damage me and the Republican Party... It's just another hoax."
Source: 9News (AP), "President Trump tweets that Russia bounty allegations are 'Fake News'", July 1, 2020. (URL: https://www.9news.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-tweets-that-russia-bounty-allegations-are-fake-news/507-bd444ee5-1ae2-48b5-8963-84b1bfb6ba7b)
Statement: (On granting clemency to Roger Stone) "Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years... He was treated very unfairly... Roger Stone is now a free man!"
Source: White House Archives, "Statement from the President Regarding Executive Grant of Clemency for Roger J. Stone, Jr.", July 10, 2020. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-regarding-executive-grant-clemency-roger-j-stone-jr/)
Statement: (To reporters, regarding the poisoning of Alexei Navalny) "I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic. It's terrible, it shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look."
Source: The White House, "Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing", September 4, 2020. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-press-briefing-september-4-2020/)
Statement: (In an interview with Newsmax, regarding Russia's Sputnik V vaccine) "I think it's a good vaccine... They've done a good job... I haven't heard anything bad about it."
Source: The Moscow Times, "Trump Praises Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine", March 10, 2021. (URL: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/03/10/trump-praises-russias-sputnik-v-vaccine-a73200)
Statement: (At a rally in South Carolina, recounting a conversation with a NATO member) "One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, 'Well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?' I said, 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?' ... 'No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay.'"
Source: The Guardian, "Trump says he would ‘encourage’ Russia to attack Nato allies who pay too little", February 10, 2024. (URL: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/10/trump-says-he-would-encourage-russia-to-attack-nato-allies-who-pay-too-little)
Statement: (At a Fox News town hall, comparing his legal troubles to Navalny's death) "It’s a form of Navalny. It is a form of communism or fascism. ... He was a very brave guy because he went back... It's happening in our country, too. We are turning into a communist country in many ways."
Source: The Guardian, "Trump compares his legal troubles to the persecution of Alexei Navalny", February 21, 2024. (URL: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/21/trump-compares-fraud-trial-alexei-navalny-death-russian-opposition-leader-vladimir-putin-fox-town-hall)
Statement: (Renewing his call on OPEC+ to reduce oil prices) "One way to stop it \[the Ukraine war] quickly is for OPEC to stop making so much money. So, OPEC ought to get on the ball and drop the price of oil. And that war will stop right away."
Source: AP News, "Trump leans in on targeting Russian oil revenue as he tries to fulfill pledge to end Ukraine war", January 24, 2025. (URL: https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-oil-opec-ukraine-8f87a106b60f615040cea277096d330d)
Statement: (On readmitting Russia to the G7) "I'd love to have them back. I think it was a mistake to throw them out."
Source: The Hill, "Trump says G-7 'should' readmit Russia", February 13, 2025. (URL: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/483010-trump-says-g-7-should-readmit-russia/)
Statement: (On Truth Social) [The] “Russia/Ukraine war would NEVER have happened if I were president.”
Source: The Hill, "Trump: Russia-Ukraine war 'would NEVER have happened' if I were president", August 18, 2025. (URL: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4158220-trump-russia-ukraine-war-would-never-have-happened-if-i-were-president/)
Statement: (At a bilateral meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the UN, regarding Russian aircraft incursions into NATO airspace) He believed Russian aircraft "should be shot down by Nato countries if they entered their airspace."
Source: The Guardian (via YouTube), "Trump says Nato countries should shoot Russian aircraft if they enter airspace", September 23, 2025. (URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VchlLuM6IP4)
Statement: (On the Russia-Ukraine War) "Russia is not a paper tiger... We have to be very careful. This is not a paper tiger. They are a very strong country."
Source: The Atlantic, "Trump Called Russia a ‘Paper Tiger’ Because He Believes Putin Is Losing", October 21, 2025. (URL: https::/www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/10/donald-trump-russia-paper-tiger/682977/)
Statement: (When asked about a Russian proposal to voluntarily maintain New START treaty limits) “Sounds like a good idea to me.”
Source: Anadolu Ajansı, "Trump signals openness to extending nuclear arms deal with Russia", October 5, 2025. (URL: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/trump-signals-openness-to-extending-nuclear-arms-deal-with-russia/3708298) Note: The source for this entry (Anadolu Ajansı) is a Turkish state-run news agency.
Statement: (On Air Force One, regarding his peace plan) "Leave it the way it is. It's cut up right now... I said cut and stop at the battle line. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people. ... Let both claim Victory, let History decide."
Source: CBS News, "Trump calls for Ukraine war to halt with Russia in control of occupied territory: 'Leave it the way it is'", October 20, 2025. (URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-ukraine-war-russia-occupied-territory-leave-it-the-way-it-is/)
Statement: (Regarding new sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil) "These are very big -- against their two biggest oil companies. These are monster companies... This is going to have a devastating effect on the Russian economy... This will be the end of the war very quickly."
Source: Reuters, "Trump imposes new sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil", October 22, 2025. (URL: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/trump-imposes-new-sanctions-russian-oil-giants-rosneft-lukoil-2025-10-22/)
Statement: (At a press conference, asked about his relationship with the Agalarovs) "I had a great weekend with them... They're very rich people. They're developers. ... It was a great weekend. I was with them for a short period of time. But it was a great period of time."
Source: WHYY, "Full text of Mueller's questions and Trump's answers", November 20, 2018. (Citing Trump's written answers to the Special Counsel). (URL: https://whyy.org/articles/full-text-of-muellers-questions-and-trumps-answers/)
Statement: (Regarding Donald Trump Jr.'s 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer) "My son is a high-quality person and I applaud his transparency."
Source: White House Archives, "Statement from the President on Donald Trump Jr.", July 9, 2017. (URL: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-donald-j-trump-donald-trump-jr/)
Statement: (In an interview with The New York Times, regarding the 2016 Trump Tower meeting) "I didn’t know anything about the meeting. ... It was a 20-minute meeting, I guess, from what I’m hearing. Many people, and many people I know, would have taken that meeting."
Source: The New York Times, "Trump, in Interview, Tangles With Sessions, Russia and Comey", July 19, 2017. (URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/us/politics/trump-interview-sessions-russia.html)
Statement: (A Washington Post report, later confirmed by Trump's lawyers, stated that President Trump) "personally dictated a statement in which Donald Trump Jr. said that he and the Russian lawyer had 'primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children.'" (This initial statement was misleading).
Source: The Washington Post, "Trump personally dictated son’s misleading statement on Russia meeting", July 31, 2017. (URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-personally-dictated-sons-misleading-statement-on-russia-meeting/2017/07/31/04c94f96-7614-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html)
Statement: (Asked by CBS News if he was concerned that Maria Butina, an accused Russian agent, had tried to infiltrate his campaign) "I don't know anything about it. ... It's a very sad thing. We'll see. ... I read that she was a gun person... We'll have to see."
Source: The Guardian, "Maria Butina: Trump 'concerned' about alleged Russian agent", July 19, 2018. (URL: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/19/maria-butina-trump-concerned-russia-spy-campaign)
Statement: (In a Twitter post, regarding the 2016 Trump Tower meeting) "Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower. This was a meeting to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics - and it went nowhere. I did not know about it!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, August 5, 2018 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/1026084333682335744)
Statement: (To reporters, regarding the release of Maria Butina) "I know nothing about her, other than the fact that she went back to Russia. ... I don't know. Was she a spy? I don't believe so. ... I mean, I saw the pictures of her. I don't know. But I would say that she's going back to Russia."
Source: C-SPAN, "President Trump Departs for South Carolina", October 25, 2019. (URL: https://www.c-span.org/video/?465691-1/president-trump-departs-white-house-south-carolina-speech)
Statement: (In a Twitter post) "The Russia Hoax is the biggest political crime in American history, by far! ... TREASONOUS!"
Source: Twitter, @realDonaldTrump, May 14, 2020 (Archived). (URL: https://www.thetrumparchive.com/tweets/1260935513663000576)