Ukraine Crisis: Trump backs ‘genius’ Putin

Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Russian leader Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine as "genius" but said the crisis would not have happened under the Republican firebrand's administration.

During an appearance on a rightwing radio program, the hosts asked Trump about Putin recognizing two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.

"I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius,'" Trump responded.

"Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine -- of Ukraine -- Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful."

Russia is facing an international backlash after Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine to secure the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk rebel republics.

Trump said Putin's tactics had been "smart" and argued, without elaborating, that the US could replicate them on its border with Mexico.