Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is blaming President Obama’s “faulty judgment” and “naiveté” for the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, not having anticipated Russia’s intentions, the president wasn’t able to shape the kinds of events that may have been able to prevent the kinds of circumstances that you’re seeing in the Ukraine,” Romney said on CBS’ Face The Nation on Sunday.
When host Bob Schieffer noted that Russia’s takeover of the Crimea region in Ukraine caught many by surprise, the former Massachusetts governor said the U.S. should have taken action early on and faulted Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s decision to reset relations with Russia back in 2009.
Romney argued the U.S. could have worked together with its allies as soon as the demonstrations in Ukraine began and communicated potential consequences to Russia before it annexed Crimea.
In the 2012 presidential race, Romney faced plenty of heat from Obama for saying the biggest geopolitical threat facing America was Russia and not Al-Qaeda.
“I think effective leaders typically are able to see the future to a certain degree, and then try to take actions to shape it in some way. And that’s of course what this president has failed to do,” the former governor said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia said on Sunday that he has serious concerns about the latest buildup of Russian troops along the eastern border of Ukraine. He told ABC’s Martha Raddatz on This Week that the chances of war with Russia are increasing.
“We don’t know what Putin has in his mind and what would be his decision. That’s why the situation is becoming even more explosive than it used to be a week ago,” said Deshchytsia, adding Ukrainian forces are “ready to respond” if Russia decides to invade.
On Saturday, Russian troops reportedly stormed a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea. Ukrainian’s interim president Oleksandr Turchynov said one of his air force commanders, Col. Yuliy Mamchur, was “abducted” by Russian forces. It was the last key Ukrainian military facility in Crimea that was turned over to pro-Russian forces.
There are now an estimated 20,000 Russian forces, including infantry, airmen, and special operation forces, now stationed along Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia. Authorities in several Baltic countries have expressed fear that Moscow’s intentions go well beyond Crimea.









