Ex president United States of America, Donald Trumppraised the actions of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putinwhich recognized the independence of eastern Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk.
“I watched (Putin’s) broadcast yesterday on television. I said ‘this is genius’,” Trump said when asked by a radio presenter about Putin’s recognition of independence. AFPWednesday (23/2).
He then said, “Putin declared most of the territory of Ukraine. Putin declared their independence. Oh, that’s amazing.”
Russia has faced international criticism after Putin recognized the independence of Donetsk-Luhansk, two regions in eastern Ukraine that have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Putin also signed the deployment of troops to the region under the pretext of keeping the peace.
A number of Western countries and the European Union have imposed financial sanctions on Russia.
In a separate statement, Trump said the crisis in Ukraine would not escalate if the current US President, Joe Biden, handled it well.
“I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would never have done what he is doing in the Trump administration. Impossible,” he boasts.
He criticized the Biden administration’s perceived weak response. According to Trump, the US stance is not in line with Russia’s actions.
“Now that it’s started, oil prices are going up and up and up. And Putin not only gets what he’s always wanted, but the spike in oil and gas prices (which makes him) even richer,” Trump continued.
When Trump took the lead, relations between the United States and Ukraine were not so warm. Relations between the US and Russia have warmed during the Trump administration.
Trump is also said to have tried to block military aid to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky over Russia.
Separately, former White House adviser Russia Fiona Hill said Trump’s foreign policy was driven by personal interests not national interests.
“Not once have I seen him do anything to put America’s interests first. Not once, not for a second,” Hill was quoted as saying CNN.
(isa/rds)
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