Former President Donald Trump said during an interview over the weekend that his plan to end the war in Ukraine in just 1 day involves threatening to give Ukraine “more” weapons “than they ever got” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not bring the war to an end.
Trump made the remarks during an interview Sunday morning with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Bartiromo asked Trump to give details about how he would allegedly end Russia’s war in Ukraine in just 24 hours.
Trump started by praising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as being “very honorable” because “when they asked him about the perfect phone call that I made, he said it was indeed, he said it was, he didn’t even know what they were talking about. He could have grandstanded —”
Bartiromo cut him off and said, “That’s not going to be enough for Putin to stop bombing Ukraine.”
“I know Zelensky very well, and I know Putin very well, even better. And I had a good relationship, very good, with both of them. I would tell Zelensky, no more. You got to make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you don’t make a deal, we’re going to give him a lot. We’re going to them more than they ever got if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day. One day.”
WATCH:
“We’re gonna give [Ukraine] a lot. We’re gonna give them more than they ever got if we have to.”
Trump says he’ll give more weapons to Zelensky if Putin doesn’t agree to a peace deal.
— Cabot Phillips (@cabot_phillips) July 16, 2023
Trump’s remarks generated strong responses online from a wide range of commentators, including some who noted that the former president skipped going to Tucker Carlson’s forum in Iowa last week where Carlson scrutinized candidates in-large part over their views on Ukraine.
Republican strategist Ryan James Girdusky tweeted, “This is basically what Biden is doing.”
Claremont Institute fellow David Reaboi said that he was “knocked out” by Trump’s remarks.
“In order to end the war, Trump commits to following the Lindsay Graham and Neocon policy of arming Ukraine to the teeth,” he said. “That’s exactly what’s happening now, and it hasn’t changed Putin’s behavior. Would Trump escalate against Russia beyond that? That’s exactly what Americans don’t want.”
“Newsflash to MAGA: Trump isn’t even suggesting the Biden policy—even the White House is slowly coming to realize that the whole thing is a mess—he is endorsing exactly the Lindsay Graham policy to end the war,” he continued. “How does that sit with you?”
Influential Republican David Sacks responded, “Disappointing.”
Republican strategist Matt Whitlock responded, “Would have been VERY interesting to see how Tucker would have responded to this if Trump hadn’t hidden from the Iowa candidate forum on Friday”
Popular conservative Twitter account AG Hamilton responded: “Hilarious. Trump is asked to explain how he would actually end the Ukraine war in one day. He says he would tell Zelensky to stop and then tell Putin we will arm Ukraine a lot more if he doesn’t agree??? No wonder he skipped the Tucker Iowa event.”