White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki slammed former
US President Donald Trump for calling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move
to recognise Ukraine’s rebel-held territories as independent as “genius”.

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During a press conference, Psaki told reporters that
the Joe Biden administration did not ask for any advice from people who heaped
praise on Russian President Vladimir Putin. She also criticised some of Trump’s
previous statements on Russia and Ukraine.

This was Trump’s first public statement on the
escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine which is sending tremors through
Europe and sparking fears in the rest of the world that an all-out war is
imminent.

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Trump’s reaction is contrary to the reactions that
came from the western powers against Russia’s military deployment on the
Ukraine border and recognition of rebel-held territories, which broke away from
Kyiv in 2014 in a conflict that cost 14,000 lives.

Putin signed decrees on Monday recognising the
self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Luhansk and People’s Republic of Donetsk
in the east of Ukraine. The move was approved on Tuesday by the Russian
parliament, the Duma.

Also Read: Allies watch for Kremlin attempt to justify Russia’s Ukraine invasion

‘White House does not take advice from anyone who praises President Putin’: Psaki

Psaki was asked about the former president’s
comments at a White House briefing on Tuesday evening.

“Well, as a matter of policy, we try not to
take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy,
which I believe is what happened there; expresses an openness to lifting
sanctions about the seizing of territory in Crimea; or, at any point in time,
told leaders of the G7 that Crimea is a part of Russia, regardless if they are
a former president,” said Psaki.

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“So, there’s a bit of a different tactic, a bit
of a different approach.”

Psaki was referring to a 2018 report that Trump had
told G7 leaders at a summit dinner that Crimea was part of Russia because
people there speak Russian.

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“And that’s probably why President Biden, and
not his predecessor, was able to rally the world and the global community in
taking steps against—against Russia’s aggression,” the press secretary
added.

‘US should learn from Russia actions in Ukraine’: Trump

Appearing on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,
Trump on Tuesday hailed Putin’s war-like demeanour in his usual incoherent
fashion.

Also Read: Russia threatens ‘military-technical’ response after expelling top US diplomat

“I went in yesterday and there was a television
screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine,
Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful,” said Trump.

He also termed Putin a peacekeeper and said the US
should learn from Russia’s actions in Ukraine and follow a similar approach on
its southern border with Mexico, where the Trump administration had tried to
put up a miles-long wall to keep out immigrants.

Also Read: Joe Biden says invasion of Ukraine due in ‘days’ as Russia responds to NATO

Trump, in a separate statement, argued that the Ukraine
crisis could have been averted altogether if it had been “properly
handled” by President Joe Biden, who defeated him in the 2020 election.

“I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would
have never done during the Trump administration what he is doing now, no
way!” the twice-impeached former president said.