In CPAC speech, Trump blames Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Biden administration

Former US president Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration during his address at CPAC in Orlando this weekend, blaming the current president for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and predicted a “major war” in Europe as a result.

In his remarks at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin only invaded Ukraine after seeing the United States’ messy evacuation from Afghanistan. “I have no doubt that President Putin made his decision… only after watching the pathetic withdrawal from Afghanistan,” the former president told the crowd.

“Putin is playing [President Joe] Biden like a drum and it’s not a pretty thing to watch,” Trump said. He also refused to walk back comments he made earlier this week calling Putin “a genius” for his Ukraine invasion strategy, once again taking aim at Biden.

“The problem is not that Putin is smart, which, of course, he’s smart,” Trump said. “The problem is that our leaders are dumb… and so far, allowed him to get away with this travesty and assault on humanity.”

Trump claimed the Russian invasion of Ukraine would not have happened under a Trump presidency. “Under Biden, Russia invaded Ukraine. I stand as the only President of the 21st century on whose watch Russia did not invade another country,” he said.  “Under our administration, Russia respected America.”