In an interview Sunday on ABC Information’ “This Week,” Democratic Sen. Jack Reed decried President Donald Trump’s current verbal assaults on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and elevated alignment with Russia.
“Primarily, that is President Trump surrendering to the Russians,” Reed advised co-anchor Martha Raddatz.
“This isn’t a statesman or a diplomat,” Reed added. “That is simply somebody who admires Putin, doesn’t imagine within the battle of the Ukrainians and is dedicated to cozying as much as an autocrat.”
Reed mentioned statements Trump made just lately about Ukraine have been “usually deceptive or fully false,” and recommend he has “no actual intention to have interaction the Ukrainian authorities to search out out what they want” in negotiations with Russia.
Sen. Jack Reed seems on “This Week,” Feb. 23, 2025.
ABC
“I would be extra assured in that suggestion if there was a vigorous dialogue between the Ukrainians and the USA with respect to those negotiations, that we understood the place their strains are, et cetera. That apparently has not occurred,” he mentioned.
With the intention to clear up the struggle in Ukraine, Reed mentioned it will likely be essential to “talk to the Russians that we are going to be very, very critical about their actions in Ukraine.”
“What we’ve got to do is hold the stress on, after which go into negotiations — negotiations that may embrace the Ukrainians, not exclude them.” he mentioned “After which with this stress, hopefully, Putin will resolve that the price is just too nice to proceed this effort.”
Rep. Mike Lawler seems on “This Week,” Feb. 23, 2025.
ABC
Speaking to Raddatz later, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a vile dictator and thug” who’s “clearly chargeable for the struggle in Ukraine,” regardless of Trump’s false assertions earlier within the week that Zelenskyy began the struggle.
“Russia, China and Iran have been working in a coordinated effort to undermine and destabilize the USA, Europe, Israel and the free world,” Lawler mentioned. “They don’t seem to be our allies or our pals — we should be clear eyed about that.”
Lawler mentioned he “didn’t agree with the President’s rhetoric about Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” but additionally mentioned that Zelenskyy “saying that the president is falling for Russian disinformation doesn’t assist his trigger.”
“What I’d say is that this, it doesn’t behoove both aspect to have this public backwards and forwards,” Lawler mentioned. “I believe President Zelenskyy must work with the administration, particularly with respect to financial cooperation.”
