Former President Donald Trump admitted being “surprised” that Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and claimed the dictator is a “changed” man.
Conceding that he misjudged the Russian strongman’s intentions, the twice-impeached president said in a new interview that he thought Putin was only massing troops on the border as a “smart way to negotiate” and win concessions from the West or Ukraine.
“I‘m surprised. I thought he was negotiating when he sent his troops to the border,” Trump told the right wing Washington Examiner. “I thought it was a tough way to negotiate but a smart way to negotiate.”
