Trump claims he was responsible for the delay of Putin's invasion of Ukraine

The former US president says that a conversation he held with the Russian tyrant had put the conflict on hold for several years, as he warned Putin that an invasion would be a "catastrophe" and considers it telling that the Kremlin chief only did so once he had left the White House.

Trump told Fox News' 'Special Report': "With Putin, I have a very good relationship. I mean, I haven't spoken to him in a long while, but I had a very strong relationship.

"He wouldn't have done it if it were me. He did it after I left.

"I thought he might do it. Look, I talked to him. I said, 'If you do it, there's going to be hell to pay. It's going to be a catastrophe. Don't do it.'"

The controversial politician doubled down on his claim that he could resolve the conflict in just 24 hours by using his experience of doing business deals.

Trump said: "I would have a deal done in 24 hours from the time we started. And I would tell (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy something and I would tell Putin something, and I'd get him into a room, and I'd tell him again, and again.

"I would have a deal done very quickly. And you know what? The death would stop, and the destruction would stop because, look, Ukraine has been wiped out."

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