Ron DeSantis forced into U-turn after calling Ukraine war ‘territorial dispute’

Likely Republican contender for White House says remark was ‘mischaracterised’ but calls Vladimir Putin a war criminal

Ron DeSantis has reversed his position on Ukraine, after facing widespread criticism for calling the Russian invasion a “territorial dispute”.

Speaking to Fox Nation in an interview to be broadcast in full on Thursday, the Florida governor and probable contender for the Republican presidential nomination said his “territorial dispute” remark had been “mischaracterised”.