Former U.S. President Trump is clearly taken with Russian President Putin’s actions in the Ukraine crisis. Trump called Putin’s latest decisions “ingenious”.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in the Ukraine crisis “genius” and “smart.” Trump said Tuesday on a conservative radio talk show, referring to Putin’s recent decisions, “It’s genius.” He said the Kremlin leader is declaring a large part of Ukraine independent and sending “peacekeepers” there. “How smart is that?”
Trump: “That would never have happened with us”
Referring to Putin, Trump went on to say, “This is a man who is very smart. I know him very well.” At the same time, the Republican claimed that it would not have happened with him as president: “It never would have happened with us.” With him in office, it would have been unthinkable, Trump said. He accused his successor in office, Joe Biden, of failing to deal with Russia.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday evening (local time) when asked about the Trump comment:
We generally try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy.
Jen Psaki, White House spokeswoman
Putin had recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday. The Kremlin leader ordered a deployment of Russian soldiers. This is the second time after 2014 that he plans to invade Ukraine. The West accuses him of violating international law.
Trump criticizes Biden’s course in Ukraine crisis
Trump had previously criticized Biden’s course in the Ukraine crisis, claiming that had he been president, tensions with Russia would never have escalated to such an extent: No one had ever been tougher on Russia, he said, and Putin and he had respected each other.
Critics, on the other hand, had accused Trump of handling the Kremlin chief with kid gloves during his time in office. According to U.S. investigators, the Russian government interfered “extensively and systematically” in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which Trump won.
