Republican lawmakers and officers, a few of whom are in a different way vocal of their opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proceed to steer clear of condemning President Donald Trump’s contemporary adverse rhetoric towards Ukraine and the besieged nation’s chief.
During the last week, the president has develop into increasingly more sympathetic towards Russia, which invaded neighboring Ukraine virtually 4 years in the past. On Saturday, Trump many times lied in regards to the conflict to right-wing attendees on the Conservative Political Motion Convention, falsely claiming that the U.S. has supplied extra army and humanitarian help to Ukraine than Western Europe, and portray Kyiv as the explanation the conflict has no longer but ended.
Now, GOP officers who’ve spoken out in opposition to Russia and supported the U.S. backing of Ukraine are seeking to stability the ones current positions whilst ultimate unswerving to Trump, who has a historical past of seeking to achieve want with Putin.
Simply ultimate week, Sen. Roger Wicker (Leave out.) referred to as Putin a “war criminal” who must “be in jail for the rest of his life,” Sen. John Kennedy (L. a..) stated he “makes Jeffrey Dahmer look like Mother Theresa,” and Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) referred to as him “a cancer and the greatest threat to democracy.” All 3 senators didn’t point out Trump through identify.
Senate Armed Services and products Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Leave out.) heads for votes on the Capitol on Feb. 18 in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine “should have never started it” in feedback about Russia’s February 2022 invasion of the rustic.
Chip Somodevilla by way of Getty Photographs
“I think the president has been very critical of Putin, and I’m not sitting here defending Putin. Putin is not a good guy. At the same time, that’s up to the Russian people. That’s not up to us to make that decision,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) instructed NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
Putin has no longer held unfastened and honest elections in Russia for many years, and is understood for imprisoning his critics. Mullin didn’t supply an instance of Trump criticizing the Russian autocrat.
“I will reiterate: Vladimir Putin is a vile dictator and thug, and he is clearly responsible for the war in Ukraine,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who serves at the International Affairs Committee, instructed ABC’s “This Week.”
“Russia, China and Iran have been working in a coordinated effort to undermine and destabilize the United States, Europe, Israel and the free world,” he endured. “They are not our allies or our friends, and we must be clear-eyed about that.”
The Trump management has been negotiating a peace handle Russia to finish the conflict, first of all with out together with Ukraine. As an alternative, Trump demanded that Ukraine give the U.S. $500 billion price of income from the previous Soviet republic’s uncommon earth minerals, as repayment for the help Kyiv receives to shield itself in opposition to Russia.
“We’re going to undercut the Ukrainians… Oh, and by the way, we’re going to get their precious minerals at the bargain rate prices as a threat to do even worse,” Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who is a part of the Armed Services and products Committee, instructed ABC’s “This Week.”
“This is not a statesman or a diplomat,” he endured. “This is just someone who admires Putin, does not believe in the struggle of the Ukrainians and is committed to cozying up to an autocrat.”
“Essentially, this is the President Trump surrendering to the Russians … This is not a statesman or a diplomat. This is just someone who admires Putin.”
Democratic Sen. Jack Reed decries Pres. Trump’s contemporary verbal assaults on Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy. https://t.co/RMqaMBfrbg percent.twitter.com/68VGIihI6Y
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 23, 2025
When Zelenskyy first of all declined the be offering ― bringing up that it does no longer give the safety promises Kyiv wishes ― Trump answered with public assaults. The Republican described the Ukrainian chief as a “dictator,” accused him of beginning the conflict within the first position, referred to as for brand spanking new elections in Kyiv, took the rustic’s attainable NATO club off the desk, and stated that Ukraine will not likely be capable of reclaim the portions of its territory seized through Russia.
“The war didn’t need to happen. It was provoked,” Steve Witkoff, U.S. particular envoy to the Mideast, instructed CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians. There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. The president has spoken about this, that didn’t need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians.”
Lawler stated that whilst he does no longer trust Trump’s characterization of Zelenskyy, he hopes that the Ukrainian chief would remember that, necessarily, he must bow his head to Trump and cooperate if he desires to stay receiving U.S. help. The congressman additionally excused the Trump management’s dialogue with Russia over a conceivable deal, announcing that no settlement can logically be made with out bringing Moscow to the desk.
“I have been very clear in my support for Ukraine,” Lawler stated. “But this kind of back and forth, saying that the president is falling for Russian disinformation, does not help his cause for sure.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks at a discussion board of presidency officers in Kyiv on Feb. 23.
Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
At a discussion board of presidency officers in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stated Sunday that bearing in mind international as a debt to be repaid would set a deadly precedent, and that the minerals proposal has been taken off the negotiating desk. Witkoff stated he expects a peace deal to be signed this week.
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Zelenskyy’s announcement got here after the Ukrainian chief stated Russia introduced a report 250-plus strike drones into the rustic in a single day. The chief stated he would surrender his presidency if it supposed Ukraine would have NATO coverage.
“What we have to do is keep the pressure on, and then go into negotiations ― negotiations that will include the Ukrainians, not exclude them,” Reed stated. “And then with this pressure hopefully, Putin will decide that the cost is too great to continue this effort. It’s a tough, tough road to go, but it’s a better one than conceding and watching the destruction of Ukraine.”
