President Donald Trump said former President Barack Obama is to blame for Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the President said when speaking to reporters outside the White House on Friday.
“President Obama lost Crimea, just so you understand,” Trump said. “This was long before I got there. I want to make it so the fake news prints it properly. President Obama lost Crimea… because Putin didn’t respect President Obama.”
When asked by a reporter for an explanation, Trump responded: “Because Putin didn’t respect President Obama. President Obama lost Crimea because president Putin didn’t respect President Obama, didn’t respect our country and didn’t respect Ukraine.”
.@POTUS: “President Obama lost Crimea, just so you understand. This was long before I got there. I want to make it so the fake news prints it properly. President Obama lost Crimea… because Putin didn’t respect President Obama.” pic.twitter.com/h4Rljz4rO2
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 15, 2018
This is the second time in a week that President Trump has blamed Obama for allowing Russia to annex Crimea.
On Saturday, President Trump, at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, said that Obama was to blame for the annexation of Crimea.
Trump also called for Russia to be re-admitted to the Group of Seven, which consists of the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K.
Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia was suspended from the G8.
“I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in,” Trump said earlier this week. “I think it would be good for the world. I think it would be good for Russia. I think it would be good the United States. I think it would be good for all of the countries of the current G7. I think the G8 would be better.”
Trump also floated the idea Friday while speaking to reporters that he may meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer.
