Former National Security Head John Bolton Says Trump ‘Barely Knew Where Ukraine Was’

John Bolton, former President Donald Trump‘s national security advisor, said his old boss did not stop Russia from invading Ukraine during his time in office. “It’s just not accurate to say that Trump’s behavior somehow deterred the Russians,” Bolton told Newsmax. “The fact is that he barely knew where Ukraine was. He once asked John Kelly, his second chief of staff, if Finland were a part of Russia. It’s just not accurate to say that Trump’s behavior somehow deterred the Russians.”

Bolton said that Russia did not take more aggressive actions while Trump was in office because Russia “didn’t feel that their military was ready.” Bolton noted that Trump did not have a tough stance against Russia, claiming more sanctions should have been imposed during his time in office.

Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump, disagreed with Bolton saying, “President Trump ensured peace during his administration and ended wars, making Bolton irrelevant.”

According to the Harvard Center for American Political Studies poll, 62% of Americans believe Vladimir Putin would not be invading Ukraine if Trump was still in office.