Republicans slam DeSantis for calling war in Ukraine a ‘territorial conflict’
“If you let Russia start to come in, and it marches over Ukraine, you’re putting the whole of Eastern Europe at risk,” Sununu said. Potential US forces on the ground, which no one wants to see and should not happen.
Sununu said sending $50 billion in aid to Ukraine was a “bargain” if it meant not having to send troops to fight a war in Europe.
“There are voices in our party that don’t see a vital American interest in Ukraine. But I see it differently,” former Vice President Mike Pence said on ABC’s “This Week.” Pence called DeSantis’ characterization of the war as a territorial conflict a “mistake” and said the United States “should provide tanks, missiles and aircraft that the Ukrainian military can use to take the fight to the Russians”.
“We have Russian aggression on its way again, as they did in the past,” he said [President Barack] Obama and Crimea, as they did under the president [George W.] Bush in Georgia. “We have to face this moment with American strength,” Pence said.
Taking a stand against Russia in Ukraine also sends a message to China, Sen. said Mike Rounds (RS.D.).
While there are territories occupied by Russia, “these are greater than those for us.” Chinese President Xi Jinping is watching the situation, Rounds said, and if the US fails to come to Ukraine’s aid, Xi may see that as a signal that China could take similar steps in Taiwan without facing US interference.
“[Xi] He wants to see how we respond and whether or not we can keep our allies together, whether or not. … NATO stays together or will NATO strengthen or not. So, this is a bigger picture than just land.”
The war in Ukraine split the Republican Party in recent months, with some viewing it in terms of the Cold War and others suggesting that the conflict is not as important as other issues for Americans. In his statement last week, DeSantis joined Republicans like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the latter camp.
“While the United States has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the readiness crisis within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military strength of the Chinese Communist Party — they become more embroiled in a regional dispute,” he told Fox News. between Ukraine and Russia, not among them.”
