Prime Minister Mark Carney issued an unusual statement Saturday to praise U.S. President Donald Trump for trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Carney’s public endorsement of Trump’s leadership on the world stage came as the president and his Alaskan summit were widely derided by foreign policy and security experts . The get-together was of little value and gave Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former intelligence officer, an image boost, they said.

In a brief statement Saturday, Carney said: “The leadership of President Trump and the United States is creating the opportunity to end Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.”

“Robust and credible security guarantees are essential to any just and lasting peace,” Carney continued. “I welcome the openness of the United Sta

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