When asked to share his opinion on the recognition during an interview with a right-wing radio show on Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump said that the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declaration that Donetsk and Luhansk are independent states is “genius.”

The 45th President went on to claim that this would not have happened under his presidency, describing turmoil in Ukraine as “wonderful.”

Despite the former President’s gleeful reaction to the crisis that many fear could start a third World War, Russia’s Vladimir Putin was met with harsh international criticism as tens of thousands of Russian troops were given the green light to enter the breakaway territories as a “peacekeeping” endeavor.

Trump added that the United States should do in Mexico what Putin is doing in Ukraine, noting that these tactics are “savvy.”

He also criticized the handling of his successor Joe Biden on the issue, reminiscing about the once strong ties between the US and Russia during his term in office.