Former United States President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions and decisions on Ukraine "smart" and "savvy," claiming that he has a close relationship with Moscow's leader.
The Republican businessman boasted of his ties with Putin on Tuesday, saying that the Ukraine crisis would not have happened if he was still the president of the U.S. In a statement, the former president said that if the situation was properly handled, there was no reason for tensions over Ukraine to be this high.
Trump Praises Putin
Trump said that he knew Putin very well, claiming that the Russian president would never have dared what he is currently doing under the Republican businessman's administration. Currently, Russia has been the recipient of international backlash and sanctions over Putin's decision to move troops into two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
The situation comes after Russia amassed hundreds of thousands of military troops at its border with Ukraine, raising tensions about a potential all-out invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden recently imposed new sanctions against the two regions but also on Moscow itself, as per NDTV.
On Tuesday, a former attorney for the Republican National Committee (RNC) and current spokesman for Trump revealed that the former president is expected to make an appearance on a right-wing radio program.
During the discussion, the program's host, Buck Sexton, called the term "invasion" of Russia into Ukraine a strong use of words. He asked Trump what could have caused the situation and what the Biden administration could have done differently to prevent the issue.
According to the Washington Post, once more claiming that the 2020 presidential elections were rigged, Trump said that the misrepresentation of the results of the votes was one factor that has led to this situation. He added that Biden was elected and placed in the seat of the president despite being the "wrong candidate" and having no concept of what to do against Russia.
Breakaway Ukrainian Regions
The two breakaway regions that Putin recognized were Luhansk and Donetsk which are part of a much larger region called Donbas that borders Russia. Pro-Russia separatists have been in control of the two areas for nearly a decade.
The Russian president's announcement of the recognition came on Monday and was immediately followed by his deployment of "peacekeeping" forces. The move has sparked international scrutiny and signaled that the Kremlin was ready to attack Ukraine.
Trump's remarks of Putin's actions and decision come amid rising tensions and Biden on Tuesday calling the peacekeeping forces "the beginning of a Russian invasion." He called Putin's move a "flagrant violation of international law."
Biden's sanctions, which were announced Tuesday, targeted two major Russian financial institutions as well as the Russian government's ability to access Western financing. The American government also plans to reveal sanctions in the coming days that will focus on Russian elites and their families.
The U.S. president described the sanctions as the "first tranche" and warned Russia that America was prepared to hand out further consequences should Putin choose to continue his invasion of Ukraine, NPR reported.
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