What controversial views did Donald Trump express about Crimea and the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

In the clip, former President Trump echoed Russian narratives, claiming that Crimeans would rather be with Russia than Ukraine. He also appeared to accept Putin's denial of Russia's involvement in the conflict, stating, "President Putin, he just said, it's not Russia. I will say this. I don't see any reason why it would be." Trump further advocated for Russia's inclusion in international forums, criticizing others by saying, "All you talk about is Russia, and they should be sitting at the table" and suggesting Putin should be brought back into the G8. These statements came shortly after US diplomatic negotiations with Russia, drawing criticism for aligning with Kremlin talking points during a sensitive geopolitical crisis.