President Donald Trump said Friday that he was �being a little bit sarcastic� when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours � and even before he even took office.

Trump was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the �Full Measure� television program as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term.

�Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that,” Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode airing Sunday. �What I really mean is I�d like to get it settled and, I�ll, I think, I think I�ll be successful.�

It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims.

Trump said at a CNN town hall in May 2023, �They�re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I�ll have that done � I�ll have that done in 24 hours.�

�That is a war that�s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president,� Trump said during his September debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. �If I win, when I�m president-elect, and what I�ll do is I�ll speak to one, I�ll speak to the other. I�ll get them together.�

The Republican repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail.

His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted.

In the interview, Trump was also asked what the plan would be if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire to the war he started three years ago.

�Bad news for this world because so many people are dying,� Trump said.

But I think, I think he’s going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he’s going to agree.”

(AP)