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."
Trump added that he believed Putin was going to cut a "good deal" not launch the brutal invasion that has killed thousands of civilians and threatened to unleash an even wider conflict.
"I figured he was going to make a good deal like everybody else does with the United States and the other people they tend to deal with," Trump added. "And then he went in."
The ex-president, who enjoyed a cozy relationship with Putin, mused the Russian leader has somehow changed since Trump left office last year.
"I think he's changed. It's a very sad thing for the world," Trump said. "He's very much changed."
The new admissions in the interview amount to a major reversal for Trump, even though he is still sticking to his dubious claim that Russia would not have invaded if he were still in the White House.
