‘I could end Ukraine war in 24 hours’, Donald Trump tells UK TV

Former US president said striking a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine ‘would be easy’

Former US president Donald Trump plays a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Scotland on May 2. Getty

Donald Trump told the UK’s GB News that he could end the war in Ukraine in a day because of his relationships with Ukrainian and Russian presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.

"I know Zelenskyy well. I know Putin well. I will get that ended in a period of …100 per cent,” the former president said.

“That deal would be easy."

Later in the interview, Mr Trump said he told Mr Putin: “You're not going in.”

“President Xi of China would never even be talking about Taiwan. We had that conversation strongly,” he said.

"I stopped North Korea from doing really bad things. And my relationship with Kim Jong-un is very good. Who knows what's going to happen there?

“Iran was going to make a great deal. They were going to be happy. I was going to be happy. We're going to have a great relationship.

"Now they're out of control. They're totally out of control. This world is blowing up around us."

Former US president Donald Trump appears in court - in pictures

Former US president Donald Trump appears in court in New York City with members of his legal team for an arraignment on charges from his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury after an inquiry into hush money paid to an adult film actress. Reuters

Mr Trump at the defence table with his team of lawyers. AP

Mr Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. Reuters

Mr Trump walks towards the Manhattan Criminal Court room in New York. EPA

The former president leaves Trump Tower for Manhattan criminal court in New York. AP

Mr Trump arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse after his indictment by a grand jury. Reuters

Mr Trump arrives at the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AP

Mr Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York before a hearing during which he will face criminal charges. AP

Police gather outside the courthouse, where Mr Trump will be arraigned. Getty / AFP

Supporters of the former US president protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City. AFP

A Trump supporter yells at members of the press outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP

A Trump supporter holds a placard outside Trump Tower on the day of Mr Trump's planned court appearance. Reuters

Anti-Trump protesters unfurl a banner outside the court. Bloomberg

A person dressed as Mr Trump rides past Trump Tower. AFP

Supporters of Mr Trump argue with counter-protesters outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP

A flag with an image of Mr Trump waves outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. Reuters

Opponents of Mr Trump protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP

A supporter of former President Donald Trump protests outside Trump Tower in New York. AP Photo

People gather at Collect Pond Park to show their support, or lack thereof, for Mr Trump. EPA

Supporters of Mr Trump stand near Trump Tower in New York, New York. EPA

Moving to the current conflict in Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion, Mr Trump said: "That war has to be stopped. That was a disaster.

"And I'm talking more than money. I'm talking about human life, it's far greater than anyone thinks.

“You don't knock down a whole city and say two people got hurt. Thousands of people are being killed in the cities that are being knocked down.

"They're in those big apartment houses and they are big buildings."

He spoke warmly about King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, adding he had a "little disagreement" with the monarch, who he said was an "environmentalist to the nth degree", over wind power.

When asked about the coming coronation, Mr Trump said he was "surprised" Prince Harry had been invited.

"I think it's going to be a great day and I think that they will do a great job and he loves the country," he said.

"And really, I get to know him quite well, and he loves the country, really loves the country, and he loves his mother.

"And that's why I thought she was treated so disrespectfully by Meghan — and just no reason to do that. I was actually surprised that Harry was invited, to be honest."

Mr Trump called Prince Harry's book Spare, which included personal revelations about members of the royal family, "horrible".

He accused his successor as US President, Joe Biden, of disrespecting the king by opting not to attend the coronation.

Mr Trump speculated that the 80-year-old White House incumbent would be “sleeping” at his American home instead of taking up the invitation to be at the Westminster Abbey ceremony on Saturday.

The billionaire businessman, who was defeated at the 2020 US presidential election by Mr Biden, said his Democrat rival was not physically up to being the country’s leader.

“I was surprised when I heard that he wasn’t coming,” Mr Trump said. “I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be [at the coronation].”

Mr Trump predicted that he had a “very good chance” of winning the next election if he secures the Republican nomination to take on Mr Biden.

Bemoaning the performance of Mr Biden’s administration, he said: “When you have somebody that’s going to be sleeping instead of coming to the coronation as President of the United States, I think it’s a bad thing.”

Speaking directly to US voters, he promised he would get rid of "crime-infested rat holes" and promised to make the US "the greatest economy in the history of the world" once more.