There is are a lot of rumors circulating after Trump’s spat with Zelensky. Here’s what is actually being said.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) addressed concerns following former President Donald Trump’s heated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasizing that it would be “absurd” for Republicans to align themselves with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Johnson discussed the fallout from the contentious meeting between Trump and Zelensky, offering a defense of the former president’s stance on the war in Ukraine. “Republicans are not turning their back on Ukraine,” Johnson clarified. “In fact, just the day before the meeting, I was with President Trump, and he was enthusiastic about the potential for a mineral deal. He truly believed, and we all agreed, that it would benefit both our country and Ukraine.”
Johnson rejected the notion that Republicans were abandoning Ukraine and also sided with Trump and Vance, who both called out Zelensky’s handling of the deal and the ongoing war. “I looked at it differently. It was Ukraine’s president who came across as inflexible in the Oval Office, instead of thankfully taking the opportunity for a deal. He seemed like he didn’t want to find a way out of the situation,” Johnson remarked.
While he acknowledged the meeting’s unfortunate outcome, Johnson expressed confidence that the proposed deal could have moved forward and achieved tangible results. He emphasized that the breakdown was disappointing and regrettable.
Regarding Trump’s ongoing relationship with Putin, Johnson made it clear that the U.S. must remain firm in its opposition to the Kremlin. “I want to see Putin defeated. He’s a clear adversary to the U.S.,” Johnson said. However, he stressed the importance of ending the war in Ukraine, highlighting that achieving peace was in the best interest of the United States, Europe, and the global community.