Russia's President Putin seeks territorial expansion in Ukraine, contradicting Trump's views on Russian-Ukrainian peace.
Loosened Leash: Pence Slams White House's Soft Approach on Ukraine-Russia Crisis
In a candid sit-down with CNN, Mike Pence, the ex-U.S. Vice President, lashed out at the White House for its lenient stance on the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, stating that it's merely emboldening Putin.
"Three years of dealings with Putin have taught us one thing: he ain’t hankering for peace, he wants Ukraine," Pence pointed out during the interview, which went live on May 5.
The situation has reached a critical point, with Ukraine having agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire on March 11, only for Russia to drag its heels and provide lame excuses. This, according to Pence, is further evidence that Putin's true intention isn't peace.
Interestingly, Trump has been seething over the slow progress of peace negotiations, declaring on April 26 that Putin might betesting his patience. He even hinted that Putin might not been keen to end the war.
While Trump has been reluctant to exert immense pressure on the Kremlin, he has shown a readiness to momentarily halt military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Criticizing the Trump administration's milquetoast approach, Pence asserted, "Putin comprehends power. That's why we gotta show the world that America's leading the free world, and we're delivering the steel to Ukraine that they need to repel the Russian invasion and secure a fair and lasting peace."
Pence believes that the indecisive support the administration has shown over the past few months has only served to encourage Russia. Instead of bowing to the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in March, the Kremlin has imposed its own partial truces.
Putin announced a "humanitarian truce" from May 7-9 on April 28, timed to coincide with Moscow's Victory Day celebrations. While this may seem like progress, it's a far cry from what the White House had initially called for. Trump, however, characterized it as a significant stride towards a peace accord during an Oval Office briefing on May 5.
"You knowPresident Putin just declared a three-day ceasefire. Might not sound like much, but in our situation, it's a huge step forward," Trump told reporters.
In reaction to Putin's announcement, President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed it as a "theatrical spectacle" rather than a genuine attempt towards peace.
During the interview, Pence also warned of the long-term repercussions of failing to achieve a just peace in Ukraine.
"This ain't just about Ukraine to me. Frankly, I believe if Putin steamrolls Ukraine, it's gonna be just a matter of time before he crosses a border where our boys in blue will have to roll out and kick his ass," Pence stated, echoing the Reagan Doctrine, which posits that if an enemy is willing to fight us on their turf, we'll equip them to push back on their home ground so we don't have to engage on ours.
- Mike Pence, as he sat down with CNN, criticized the White House's lenient stance on the Ukraine-Russia crisis, claiming it emboldens Putin.
- Pence asserted that three years of dealings with Putin have demonstrated his intent isn't peace, but control over Ukraine.
- Despite Trump's frustration with the slow progress of peace negotiations, he has been reluctant to exert immense pressure on the Kremlin.
- Pence warns of the long-term repercussions of failing to achieve a just peace in Ukraine, suggesting it could potentially escalate into a larger conflict.
- In response to Putin's announcement of a three-day ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as a theatrical spectacle, not a genuine attempt towards peace, in the context of general news, policy-and-legislation, politics, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice.
