Republicans push back against Donald Trump’s hesitant support for Ukraine | Republicans

A handful of Republicans have spoken out against Donald Trump’s softening of his stance on Russia, threatening to withdraw financial support for his agenda over his “embarrassing” handling of the war in Ukraine.

Outgoing Nebraska congressman Don Bacon condemned Trump’s actions – which include a stunning deal to buy Russian diesel and the suspension of sanctions against Moscow – as “absolutely disgraceful” and accused the US president of cozying up to a “war criminal” in Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart.

“It’s truly shameful, and the Republicans that I associate with, and there are many of us, can’t stand it,” Bacon told CNN on Monday. “I think the president’s influence in this Congress is dwindling to nothing.”

Last week, Trump lifted sanctions on Russia through legislation named after his longtime ally and late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The legislation, which he signed only last month, was aimed at increasing financial pressure on Russia, more than four years after its invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, Trump announced that he had reached a deal with Putin to import diesel fuel, which has become more expensive for Americans largely because of Trump’s war with Iran. Trump had already blamed the Ukrainian strikes on Russia.

Over the weekend, Trump claimed the title of president of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy “does not care” about the impact of Ukrainian strikes on Russia and “does not want to end this war and probably never has” because Ukraine receives financial support from Europe.

Trump also suggested that Zelensky should resign on Monday, saying it was “time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.”

In an interview with Bloomberg, Zelensky said he believed Trump was taking steps to “convince Ukraine to capitulate” to Russian demands. On social media, Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s partnership with the United States.

Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister and now a South Carolina senator, broke with the president’s decision over the weekend, telling reporters Saturday: “Personally, I would choose to pressure Russia to end the war and lower gas prices because I don’t trust Putin, and I don’t trust Russia.” »

“(Ronald Reagan) and (Lindsey Graham) would be ashamed of this,” Bill Cassidy, the outgoing U.S. senator from Louisiana, wrote on X in response to a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed on the subject.

Mitt Romney, a former Republican senator and presidential candidate, wrote on social media that if the United States gave up Ukraine, it would also “give up freedom.”

Some lawmakers had already raised concerns about the president’s support for Ukraine after Ukrainian officials said last week that the country’s access to Starshield, a military version of the Starlink satellite internet service powered by Elon Musk’s company, was restricted. Musk suggested on social media that the US government controlled access to Ukraine.

Zelensky also accused the US government of withholding intelligence about a Russian missile attack on Sunday evening – the third such accusation.

Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick told MS Now on Monday that the Trump administration has not provided “sufficient answers” on the recent disruptions of Starshield and the diesel deal.

“This is completely unacceptable and it’s not going to last,” Fitzpatrick said. “There will be consequences for that. And besides, it’s not just Starshield. It’s the diesel deal. It’s the lifting of sanctions. It’s all of that.”

Fitzpatrick said lawmakers would “demand accountability” and could take “punitive budgetary measures” to force the administration to provide answers.

Bacon told CNN he was unwilling to support the president’s agenda, such as building a triumphal arch or a new ballroom at the White House, while he refused to support Ukraine.

“Why would I want to support the president’s priorities, like the Victory Arch?” » asked Bacon. “Frankly, what I see him doing here is surrendering.”

Bacon added: “Why should we try to accommodate him and meet him halfway on funding when he’s embarrassing this country so much with what he’s doing with Putin and Zelensky?”