'Regrettable': Mike Pence takes old boss to task over 'unfortunate' Oval Office blow-up

Mike Pence, former vice president for Donald Trump, gave his old boss a slap on the wrist late Monday during an exclusive new interview on CNN's "The Source" with anchor Kaitlan Collins.

In introducing the segment, Collins called Pence's comments "perhaps his biggest and sharpest break" with Trump.

"The former vice president laid out pretty blunt remarks why he believes Trump is wrong when he says that he thinks [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants peace," she said.

Collins noted Pence has been outspoken on foreign policy, especially when it comes to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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"When President Trump says that he thinks President Putin wants peace, do you agree with that?" she asked.

Pence flatly rejected the notion, noting he's met Putin and studied his leadership for decades.

"Well, I think if the last three years teaches us anything, it's that Vladimir Putin doesn't want peace. He wants Ukraine. And the fact that we are now nearly two months following a ceasefire agreement that Ukraine has agreed to, and Russia continues to delay and give excuses, I think confirms that point," he asserted.

Pence said Putin "only understands power" and said that's why the United States must make it clear it will "continue to lead the free world, to provide Ukraine with the military support they need to repel the Russian invasion and achieve a just and lasting peace."

He admonished the Trump administration over its "wavering support" the last few months to Ukraine, which he said has "only emboldened Russia."

And he offered a grim prediction.

"We continue to see their brutal assault on civilian populations, claiming innocent lives. Let me be clear: this is not just about Ukraine for me," said Pence. "I mean, I really do believe that if Vladimir Putin overruns Ukraine, it's just a matter of time before he crosses a border where our men and women in uniform are going to have to go fight him. I mean, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia are all NATO allies, and if Russia crosses those borders, then we have a treaty obligation to engage them militarily."

Later in the segment, Collins asked Pence his thoughts on a high-profile dust-up between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"I just have to know what was going through your mind when you were watching that remarkable Oval Office meeting where President Trump and Vice President Vance had an incredibly contentious exchange with President Zelensky? What would you have done if you were in that room that day?" she asked.

Pence again broke with his former boss, and joked he too has been involved in "a lot of contentious meetings in the Oval Office —just usually not on camera."

"I thought it was regrettable. I thought President Zelensky was ill-advised to take his argument before the media in the Oval Office. And I thought it was unfortunate the way the president and the administration responded in that moment," Pence replied.

Watch the clip below or at this link.