Former US President Donald Trump has weighed in on Russia's invasion of Ukraine - slamming Joe Biden in the process.
Overnight, President Vladimir Putin announced that his "special military operation" is underway in Ukraine, as Russian forces crossed the border into Ukraine.
In an address to the Russian people that was broadcast on Russian national television on Thursday morning, Putin urged Ukrainian forces to lay down their weapons and go home.
"Our plans are not to occupy Ukraine, we do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone," Putin said. He added that "those who may be tempted to intervene" will face consequences, and that any possible bloodshed will be down to the Ukrainian government.
Putin said: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history."
He added that the main goal of the operation is to protect those who have "suffered from abuse and genocide from the Kyiv regime".
Now, Trump has spoken out about the "operation", telling Fox News via telephone: "As an American, I'm angry about it and saddened by it."
However, Trump also added that Putin's plan would never have occurred if he was in the White House, adding: "The whole thing should never have happened and it would never have happened during my administration."
Failing to elaborate on this comment, Trump added: "It didn’t for a very good reason and I’ll explain that to you someday."
Check out Trump's comments below:Trump also suggested that Putin saw the opportunity to invade Ukraine after witnessing President Biden's withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
He said: "I think that it's a terrible thing. The way it started -- I really don't believe he wanted to do this initially, I think he wanted to do something and negotiate and it just got worse and worse.
"And then he saw the weakness -- and do you know when it really started? I think with the weakness in Afghanistan, the way [the Biden Administration] pulled out of Afghanistan. I really believe that's where [Putin] started thinking, you know, he could do this."
When asked about President Biden's monitoring of the developing situation, Trump said: "I don't think he's monitoring, I think he's probably sleeping right now. This is a terrible thing. This is something that should never have happened."
The White House has issued a statement in response to Russia's invasion, with Biden stating: "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering."
"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," Biden added.
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