Obama accuses Trump's White House of "bowing the knee to Putin" and "selling out Ukraine" while rejecting key allies like Canada. "And while we alienate key allies like Canada, the White House bends the knee to Vladimir Putin of Russia and sells out the Ukrainians, who are fighting for their freedom and democracy," he said. The former US president said the words at a rally in the Democratic campaign, criticizing Trump's approach to the war in Ukraine. Obama was president of the United States in 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea. Video: Report a collision.