Republican Senator John Kennedy leveled harsh criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of failing to approach peace talks with seriousness in an interview with Fox News.
“I think he thinks we’re afraid of him,” the Louisiana senator said of the Russian leader. “He has jacked around President Trump at every turn. He has disrespected our president.”
Why It Matters
Ceasefire and peace talks for the Russia-Ukraine war have reached a critical stage, with the United States—a key dealmaker—threatening to pull out of the process if there is no progress soon.
Kennedy’s Fox News comments come at a time when U.S. and global leaders are questioning the Kremlin’s commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine.
AP
What To Know
During the interview, Kennedy pointed the finger at former President Joe Biden‘s administration for not better handling the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying “America is paying the price right now for President Biden’s appeasement.”
“The Biden people believed in diplomacy first, last and always,” he said, “we’re in a knife fight with Russia and China and Iran and the Biden people wanted to quote Socrates to them.”
He then went on to criticize Putin calling his latest proposal “nothing.”
“He wants to keep all the territory that he’s taken,” Kennedy added, “he wants to prohibit Ukraine from joining NATO and he wants America and Europe to stop helping Ukraine.”
“I think that Putin thinks that America has taken the bullet train to chump town,” Kennedy said.
The senator’s comments point to a broader frustration over Russia’s negotiating tactics, which Kennedy described as a series of broken promises.
He said that if Putin continues to disrespect the United States, the administration is prepared to impose severe measures.
On Saturday, following a brief meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Pope Francis‘ funeral, Trump expressed doubts about Putin’s willingness to halt the war.
“Maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” the president wrote on Truth Social.
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said: “I don’t think it’s going to get any better until we make it clear to Mr. Putin that we are willing to turn him and his country into fish food.”
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said in a post on X Friday: “IVE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women + children. President Trump pls put the toughest of sanctions on Putin. U ought to c from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy.”
What Happens Next
On Sunday, Trump said he was going to give “two weeks” for Ukraine and Russia to make a peace deal.
Putin announced on Monday that there would be a temporary ceasefire between May 8 and May 11.