ORLANDO, Fla. — Veteran Republican diplomat Richard Grenell blamed President Joe Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a speech to activists gathered for the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Grenell, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and later acting director of national intelligence, was appointed to both posts by former President Donald Trump. He said in a Friday afternoon speech focused on the need for the United States to rediscover “muscular diplomacy” that Biden emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin because he failed to use the toughest diplomatic and economic sanctions at his disposal to deter Moscow before the invasion of Ukraine commenced this week.