Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, has sparked controversy by suggesting that Russia acted in “good faith” during the invasion of Ukraine. In an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Briefing with Steve Scully,” Kennedy claimed that the United States, not Russia, lacked good intentions and bore responsibility for the ongoing conflict.
When asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s persistence in seizing parts of Ukraine despite international condemnation, Kennedy suggested that the path forward involved taking small steps towards negotiation. However, the host pointed out that Putin had rejected such calls unless Russia retained the territory it had already claimed.
“No, no. Putin has repeatedly said yes,” Kennedy replied. “In fact, he negotiated — two times he agreed to agreements. He agreed to the Minsk Accord, and then he agreed in 2022 to an agreement that would’ve left Ukraine completely intact.”
“It was us who forced Zelensky to sabotage that agreement. It was already signed,” he continued. “So, you know, the Russians were acting in good faith. … So, no, I think we’re the ones who have not been acting in good faith.” (Listen below).
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Since the invasion began in February 2022, the U.S. has consistently called on Russia to end its military actions in Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently stated that the war could end immediately if Russia withdrew its forces from Ukraine and ceased its brutal attacks on Ukrainian cities and people. However, Putin has asserted that Ukraine would not prevail and vowed to continue the aggression.
Kennedy has previously expressed viewpoints favorable to Russia and claimed that the war in Ukraine was a result of a relentless mentality of foreign domination fostered by the United States. He referred to the conflict as a “proxy war” and argued that repeated and deliberate provocations towards Russia since the 1990s are to blame for the current circumstances.
He also addressed criticisms of his Democratic nomination candidacy and concerns about his political positions. Kennedy is widely known for promoting anti-vaccine misinformation, a stance that has drawn strong criticism, even from within his own family. Despite this controversy, he has gained popularity within the anti-vaccine movement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has shown a relatively strong standing in Democratic primary polls compared to President Joe Biden.
