Ron DeSantis walks back his claim Russian invasion of Ukraine is just a ‘territorial dispute’

US presidential candidate criticised for dismissive description of brutal war

Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Meg Kinnard

Ron DeSantis is walking back his characterisation of Russia’s war in Ukraine as a “territorial dispute”, following criticism from a number of fellow Republicans who expressed concern about the potential 2024 presidential candidate’s dismissive description of the conflict.