Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump has frequently bragged about his shut connection with Putin, and the two achieved many occasions through the former’s presidency. Trump usually describes the Russian strongman in flattering conditions, ignoring studies of murdered dissidents, fraud-loaded elections, and election interference.

That mainly remained the exact just after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Whilst most of the earth was condemning the assault, Trump lauded Putin’s justification for invading as “genius” and “savvy.”

Final thirty day period, Trump appeared to take the blame for the invasion away from Putin and position it on US leadership — precisely wherever the Russian president claims it belongs. Trump has also tried out to score political points off Putin’s invasion, professing devoid of basis that it would not have transpired if he was continue to president.

“They truly taunted him, if you actually search at it, our region and our so-termed management taunted Putin,” Trump advised appropriate-wing network Actual America’s Voice. “I would hear, I would say, you know, they are almost forcing him to go in with what they’re saying. The rhetoric was so dumb.”

Putin has tried using to blame his invasion of Ukraine on Western leaders, and the eastward enlargement of NATO, framing it as a defensive operation intended to preserve the Russian individuals and their way of lifetime — and Trump’s responses fall specifically in line with that narrative. Without a doubt, Putin has claimed that Ukraine is not a actual country and tried out to take out its elected leadership, whilst also seeking to pin blame on the West.

Trump also pushed a Ukraine-Russia peace offer right after Putin threatened the use of nuclear weapons, enjoying into Putin’s plans in a way that some professionals explained as “harmful.”

A spokesperson for Trump was not immediately available for comment.