Donald Trump is facing rare pressure from members of his own party who want the president to take a harder stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin as he prepares for an expected meeting Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a report from The New York Times.
Three Republican senators – John Barrasso (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) – joined five Democrats and one independent in issuing a sharply worded statement Friday describing Putin as a “ruthless murderer” who “has no interest in peace” and “cannot be trusted.”
The statement condemned Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine that continued through the Christmas holiday.
While the statement stopped short of offering any direct criticism of the MAGA leader’s handling of negotiations aimed at ending the bloody, yearslong war, its tone was notably tougher than the language Trump has often used about Putin. Trump has urged the Russian leader to end the invasion, but has also repeatedly praised their relationship and said he “gets along well” with him, the Times noted.
“It bears repeating that President Zelensky agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined,” the statement said, “yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity’s holiest days.”
The statement was led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was also signed by Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Notably absent were most Republican members of the committee, including its chairman, Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), a close Trump ally, according to the Times report.
Republican strategist Alex Conant told the Times the statement appeared aimed at showing bipartisan support for Zelenskyy, noting GOP senators have “time and time again” shown more skepticism of Putin than Trump.
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump told Politico Friday of Zelenskyy ahead of the meeting. “So we’ll see what he’s got.” The president added that he also expects to speak with Putin “soon, as much as I want.”