President Trump delivers remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Seaside, Fla., on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator.”
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Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs
Some Senate Republicans took challenge Wednesday with President Trump’s escalating criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator” and his false assertion that Ukraine provoked the continued battle with Russia, now in its third 12 months.
Trump’s “dictator” comment got here in a scathing publish on his TruthSocial social account, and adopted feedback by Zelenskyy earlier within the day that he “want to see extra fact from the Trump crew.”
The president’s feedback left a number of lawmakers seeking to dispel Russian speaking factors about how the battle started and who bore final duty.
“We should do not forget that the instigator of this battle was Russia,” stated Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. “It was President Putin who launched an unprovoked assault on Ukraine.”
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who simply returned from an official go to to Ukraine, lauded Zelenskyy for protecting his nation collectively and placing up a more durable struggle than Russia anticipated.
“I believe we must always give [Zelenskyy] a good quantity of credit score for that work,” he stated.
The response amongst Senate Republicans highlights a public intraparty rift with the president on a key White Home precedence, despite the fact that lawmakers have little energy to alter Trump’s thoughts about approving any extra funding for Ukraine, his private view of Zelenskyy or the growing probability of a peace deal that many lawmakers fear is extra prone to favor Russia’s pursuits.
The president holds large constitutional authority to conduct international coverage with little test on that energy from Congress or wherever else. An preliminary spherical of U.S.-Russia talks kicked off in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday — with out Ukraine on the desk.
Senators like Tillis expressed some concern that the president is taking a cozier method to Russian President Vladimir Putin, somebody who extra conservative protection hawks historically view as a direct risk to U.S. pursuits.
“Putin’s a assassin,” Tillis stated. “He is a really dangerous one that must be stopped. He’ll metastasize throughout Europe if we do not [stop him.]”
On the similar time Tillis, who’s up for re-election in 2026, advised that Trump’s negotiating techniques usually work for him and stated he is prepared to offer him the good thing about the doubt to attempt to finalize a deal that protects Ukraine.
“I am going to give him latitude for now, however on the finish of the day, Putin must be a loser and the Ukrainian folks have to be the winners,” Tillis stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives on the 61st Munich Safety Convention on Feb. 15, in Munich, Germany. Ukrainian officers had been omitted of a gathering this week between U.S. and Russia negotiators about ending the battle in Ukraine.
Sean Gallup/Getty Photographs/Getty Photographs Europe
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Sean Gallup/Getty Photographs/Getty Photographs Europe
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., echoed the view that Trump must be given room to barter, telling reporters the president is “a public negotiator and understands positioning and likes to melt his targets.”
Requested what he would inform Ukrainians following Trump’s strikes, Cramer stated: “Watch Donald Trump masterfully convey an finish to the battle in your nation and do not anticipate to get all the pieces you need and do not anticipate Vladimir Putin to get all the pieces he desires, however a everlasting peace which I believe nearly each Ukrainian desires.”
Whether or not or not Trump can dealer an finish to the battle is unlikely to have an effect on the truth that the GOP-controlled Congress has little urge for food for approving any extra international assist to assist Ukraine in its struggle. All in, Congress has accredited about $175 billion that features direct navy help to Ukraine and funds to rebuild the U.S. navy stockpile.
Zelenskyy informed NBC in an interview that aired Sunday that it might be “very very troublesome” for Ukraine to outlive with out U.S. assist. “I do not need to give it some thought,” he stated. “Sure, now we have to consider it.”
Previous to Trump’s feedback, different prime Republicans had been already expressing concern with the president’s posture towards Russia. In the course of the Munich Safety Convention final week, Senate Armed Companies Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., criticized Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s declaration that Ukraine wouldn’t be provided NATO membership as a part of any peace take care of Russia.
“There are good guys and dangerous guys on this battle, and the Russians are the dangerous guys,” Wicker stated throughout a programming interview hosted by Politico. “They invaded, opposite to nearly each worldwide legislation, and they need to be defeated. And Ukraine is entitled to the guarantees that the world made to it.”
Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Thune spoke concerning the battle in Ukraine, saying it was price giving each side “some area” to kind out their points.
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
Whereas former Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was – and stays – one of many loudest defenders of U.S. assist to Ukraine in Congress, his successor made clear Wednesday he takes a softer method.
“I believe what I am in assist of is a peaceable final result and lead to Ukraine, and I believe proper now the administration, the president and his crew are working to realize that,” Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., informed reporters. “And I believe proper now you have to give them some area.”
Requested about Trump’s characterization of Zelenskyy as a dictator, Thune responded: “The president speaks for himself.”
Deirdre Walsh and Lexie Schapitl contributed reporting.
