Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-President Trump hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images
Former President Trump told the Washington Examiner in an interview that he is "surprised" Russian President Vladimir Putin followed through on his threat to invade Ukraine.
Why it matters: Trump, who maintained a close working relationship with Putin during his presidency, has condemned the invasion as a "crime against humanity" but called Putin "very savvy" for recognizing two breakaway "republics" in eastern Ukraine as independent two days before Russian forces launched an attack on the entire country.
What he's saying: "I’m surprised," he told the Examiner on Tuesday. "I thought he was negotiating when he sent his troops to the border. I thought he was negotiating."
Worth noting: Former national security adviser John Bolton said in an interview earlier this month that it's inaccurate to say Trump's behavior "deterred the Russians."
Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis