ORLANDO, Fla. As Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday, Republicans at CPAC, the annual gathering of the nations top conservatives, were mostly silent on the rapidly worsening situation in Eastern Europe.

Instead, they wanted to talk about the U.S.-Mexico border.

We are in the process of getting money from the legislature so that if Biden is dropping illegal aliens into Florida from the southern border, Im rerouting them to Delaware, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom many see as a likely GOP candidate for president in 2024.

DeSantis, Thursdays headliner, didnt mention Ukraine once during his 20-minute speech, which took place in a huge convention hall as President Joe Biden addressed the nation on sanctions to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin. But DeSantis talked plenty about woke culture and critical race theory, all red meat tossed out liberally to a hungry GOP base.

He also complained that Biden hates Florida, a state he said represents freedom from coronavirus mandates.

He is always criticizing us, always trying to take potshots at Florida. ... He doesnt like Florida and he doesnt like me because we stand up to him, said DeSantis, who didnt address his 2024 plans at the convention.