Santorum: Can't Show Weakness and Expect Russia Not to Take Advantage

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum says he would have prevented the crisis in Ukraine had he been elected president.

Appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Santorum accused President Barack Obama of continually showing weakness, which he said has encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to take over Crimea from Ukraine. It has also prompted Putin to threaten to take over other parts of Ukraine and other former Soviet republics that have a large ethnic Russian populations.

"I would have deployed missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic. I would have stood by our allies in Ukraine," Santorum, a former Republican presidential candidate said. Other Republicans also have been critical of Obama for canceling the missile defense programs soon after taking office in 2008. Obama also has come under fire for announcing a "reset" policy with Russia.

"You can't show the continual weakness and not expect Russia to advantage of it," Santorum said.

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