One Republican believes Trump is wrong.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should either change his approach or step down in order to bring peace to the ongoing war with Russia. However, Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) disagreed with this position during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. Lankford made it clear that he doesn’t believe in calling for the resignation of world leaders, whether it’s Zelenskyy or others.
Lankford stated, “I’m not interested in calling for the resignation of other world leaders. I didn’t like it when Chuck Schumer called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be removed, and I don’t think it’s right for members of the Senate to demand Zelenskyy’s resignation either.” He emphasized that removing Zelenskyy at this moment would only lead to more instability in Ukraine and further complicate efforts to end the war. Lankford also pointed out that finding a negotiator to bring both sides to the table in the midst of a leadership vacuum would only increase the chaos.
While some critics suggest that former President Donald Trump is distancing himself from Zelenskyy and becoming more sympathetic toward Russia, Lankford highlighted the cordial relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy. “If you recall, in their recent Oval Office meeting, President Trump made it clear that he is a friend of Zelenskyy. They’ve had productive conversations,” Lankford noted. He also acknowledged the differences between the two leaders, particularly regarding Zelenskyy’s calls for stronger security guarantees.
Lankford reiterated that while Trump is committed to supporting Ukraine, putting American troops in direct confrontation with Russia is not an option. “President Trump made it clear that the U.S. is not going to put boots on the ground in Ukraine,” he added. “Trump was the first to meet with Zelenskyy and make it clear that he’s committed to ending the violence. He wants to bring both sides to the negotiating table and end the bloodshed.”