Sen. Tom Cotton, a long-standing critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Sunday declined to condemn former President Donald Trump for recent comments praising the Russian autocrat.

“I don’t speak on behalf of other politicians. They can all speak for themselves,” the Arkansas Republican told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week.”

In discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Stephanopoulos repeatedly pressed Cotton for a response to Trump’s recent comments in an interview with “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” in which he said Putin’s strategy was “genius” and also said, “Here’s a guy who’s very savvy.” On Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump called Putin “smart,” though he did condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“George,” Cotton told Stephanopoulos, “if you want to know what Donald Trump thinks about Vladimir Putin or any other topic, I’d encourage you to invite him on your show. I don’t speak on behalf of other politicians. They can speak for themselves.”

Stephanopoulos pressed further, telling Cotton he was sure that if Barack Obama or Joe Biden had said similar things, Cotton would readily condemn those remarks. Cotton declined to do so.

“Again, George, if you want to talk to the former president about his views or his message, you can have him on your show,” he said.

For his part, Cotton was not shy about urging that more assistance be provided for Ukraine’s government, as well as denouncing Putin.

“I’m delivering my message to you,” he said,”which I said has been clear, whether Barack Obama is president, whether Donald Trump was president, and now whether Joe Biden was president, that Vladimir Putin has been a ruthless dictator for years. Too many people have not taken the threat seriously. And that’s why you see the images we see in Ukraine now.”

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