Washington, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to begin talks on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. Prior to the announcement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ruled out possible NATO membership for Ukraine and said it was unrealistic to aim for a return to Ukraine’s borders before Russia seized Crimea in 2014. In response Allison McManus, managing director for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Trump has given the upper hand to Putin, a dictator and alleged war criminal. He has given Russia free rein to decide Ukraine’s future, jeopardizing Ukrainian sovereignty, security, and prosperity. This isn’t just about being a bad partner to our European allies; it’s a critical national security failure. A stronger Russia is a bad deal for Ukrainians, it’s a bad deal for Europeans, and it’s a bad deal for Americans who want to deter future Russian aggression against U.S. allies. It raises the specter of a future, much more serious war that could involve U.S. troops. Congress should stand up for our collective security by preventing the rollback of sanctions as a reward for a Russian-enforced frozen conflict.
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