George W Bush made a gaffe during a speech on Ukraine on Wednesday where he mistakenly condemned the “brutal invasion of Iraq”.
Speaking at the George W Bush Institute in Dallas, he gave a speech on the importance of democratic elections and criticised Russia’s political system.
“Russian elections are rigged. Political opponents imprisoned or otherwise are eliminated from participating in the electoral process. The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia,” he said.
“And the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq, I mean of Ukraine.”
The former President then laughed off the apparent misstep before adding: “Anyway, I’m 75.”
In March 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq amid claims the state had biological and nuclear weapons, although none were ever found.
In December the same year, Iraq’s former leader, Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces, tried and executed following a trial in 2006.
Following the speech, Nina Turner, former Ohio senator said: “George W. Bush is a war criminal.”
Away from his gaffe, Mr Bush also labelled Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “cool little guy” and compared him to Winston Chruchill.
“The way countries conduct elections is indicative of how their leaders treat their own people, and how nations behave toward other nations,” Mr Bush said.
“And nowhere is this on display more clearly than Ukraine.”
