Russia and Putin · Between terms · № 67
Called Putin's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk and dispatch of 'peacekeepers' 'genius' and 'savvy'
“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius." Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine -- of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful. So, Putin is now saying, "It's independent," a large section of Ukraine. I said, "How smart is that?" And he's gonna go in and be a peacekeeper.”
- Said
- , The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, syndicated radio, by phone from Palm Beach, Florida
- Subject
- Donbas recognition
- Type
- Praise and deference
- Topic
- Ukraine & Russia
- Era
- Between terms
What happened
On February 21, 2022, Putin recognized the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian troops into them as 'peacekeepers.' The next day Trump told the radio hosts the move was 'genius,' called Putin 'a guy who's very savvy' and said 'I know him very well. Very, very well.' He added that it 'never would have happened' had he been in office. The same day Biden called Russia's moves 'the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine' and announced sanctions on two Russian banks, Russian sovereign debt and members of the Russian elite. White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded: 'As a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy.' Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.