Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet premier, says that he supports Russian President Vladimir Putin’s takeover in Crimea — and that he would have done the same if he’d had the chance.

The once-powerful leader, now 85 and in poor health, spoke in an interview with the Sunday Times of London.

“I’m always with the free will of the people and most in Crimea wanted to be reunited with Russia,” Gorbachev said.

Putin seized the peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014 following a chaotic pro-Western uprising.

Gorbachev, who is releasing a memoir, has criticized Putin for retaining power for more than 15 years and for clamping down on protesters.

“We always had normal relations,” he said of his relationship with Putin, who has also served as prime minister. “Now, I wouldn’t describe them as normal. We have no relations.”