This Guy is Very Smart: Trump on Putin

Former U.S. President Donald Trump called the Kremlin's decision to recognize the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics "very smart." He made these remarks in an interview on the American podcast "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show."

According to the political figure, Russia turned out to be the most powerful peacekeeping force in the region.
"When I watched TV yesterday, I said, 'This is brilliant.' Putin announces independence for most of Ukraine. Oh, that's wonderful. And he's going to become a peacemaker. This is the most powerful peacekeeping force I've ever seen," said the 45th President of the United States.

Trump also emphasized that during his presidency, the Ukrainian crisis remained in a quieter phase, partly due to his relations with Vladimir Putin.
"This guy is very smart. I knew Putin very well. I had a very good relationship with him. He liked me, I liked him. You know, I mean, he's a tough nut. He has a lot of charm and a lot of pride, but he also loves his country," Trump stated.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR, as well as ordered peacekeeping in the republics. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that this decision was made based on the provisions of the UN Charter, adding that the country recognizes the republics within the borders where the leadership of the republic exercises its powers.