Vladimir Putin’s moves on Ukraine ‘savvy’ and ‘genius’: Donald Trump

Former United States President Donald Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his moves against Ukraine calling his recognition of the independence of two breakaway regions “savvy” and “genius”.

During a podcast interview on the ‘Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show’ Tuesday, he said, “I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful. I said, ‘How smart is that? And he’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper,” according to a Business Insider report.

Also Read: Ukraine crisis: Sanctions against Russia unanimously approved by European Union

Moscow on Monday had recognised seperatist regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk (or collectively known as Donbas), as independent entities and deployed troops for ‘peacekeeping’. On Tuesday, the Russian upper house voted unanimously, allowing President Vladimir Putin to send army abroad, a move that could trigger an invasion in Ukraine. Russia also announced diplomatic ties with the rebel-led areas.   

Trump further went on to claim that Putin had only decided to invade Ukraine now because he had a better relationship with the former US President than with the current one, Joe Biden.

“I knew Putin very well. I got along with him great. He liked me. I liked him. I mean, you know, he’s a tough cookie, got a lot of the great charm and a lot of pride. But the way he — and he loves his country, you know? He loves his country.”

Also Read: What sanctions did Biden announce on Russia amid Ukraine crisis?

In a statement, he said, “If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all,” he said in a statement. I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump administration what he is doing now, no way!” according to an AFP report. 

When asked what went wrong with Ukraine, he reasserted his claim of a rigged Presidential election in the US, “Well, what went wrong was a rigged election and what went wrong is a candidate that shouldn’t be there and a man that has no concept of what he’s doing,” Trump said, later adding that an invasion “never would have happened with us — had I been in office, not even thinkable. This would never have happened.”

Also Read: Putin’s actions are beginning of Russian’s invasion of Ukraine: Biden

Trump further went on to draw a parallel between Russian entering Ukraine’s border for ‘peacekeeping’ and the tensions at the US-Mexico border. 

“We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re going to keep peace all right. No, but think of it. Here’s a guy who’s very savvy. … I know him very well — very, very well,” he said.

“I knew that he always wanted Ukraine. I used to talk to him about it. I said, ‘You can’t do it. You’re not going to do it.’ But I could see that he wanted it. I used to ask him. We used to talk about it at length,” Trump added, according to Business Insider.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden announced ‘the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions’ in Ukraine. In an address from the White House, the Democrat described Russia President Vladimir Putin’s moves as the beginning of an invasion. He promised that more sanctions would be coming if Putin proceeds further.