On Sunday, former Vice President Mike Pence stated that President Donald Trump needs to implement further secondary sanctions to counter the “hammer” of Russian President Vladimir Putin. After a meeting at the Alaska High Stakes Summit, Trump shifted from advocating for a ceasefire to discussing a broader peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
During his appearance on CNN’s “The State of the Union,” Pence characterized Trump’s approach towards the dictator as one using “velvet gloves.” He emphasized that “the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come soon.” Pence also mentioned that Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky is set to meet Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, alongside British and European leaders.
Pence urged Trump to reach out to Senator John Tune concurrently. He stressed that it should be evident to Putin that the U.S. is ready to act decisively, both economically and by reinforcing Ukraine’s commitment to safety. “We don’t want to give Putin an opportunity to use delays as excuses for escalating conflicts during the winter,” he added.
Pence has repeatedly pointed out Putin’s aggressive actions over the years, citing attacks during various U.S. presidencies as evidence of the need for strength against him. He shared his belief that Putin perceives weakness rather than strength. “It seems like Putin wants to keep pushing until he achieves his goals,” Pence remarked.
He went on to commend Trump for trying to establish peace in Ukraine while pointing out the peace agreements Trump has secured in places like Africa and between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Pence expressed, “He deserves trust as a leader who hasn’t given up on Ukraine.” Yet, he also expressed the need for a ceasefire contract while cautioning that “a bad deal is better than no deal at all.”
Pence conveyed that any meeting between Trump and Putin should focus on genuine security assurances for the U.S. The talks at the summit, he noted, were positioned as opportunities to allude to peace but warned against land exchanges that might weaken Ukraine’s stance.
He firmly stated that the aggressor in this conflict is Putin, reiterating that the invasion had no justification three years ago. “America and our allies must stand strong to create conditions for lasting peace,” he asserted.
Shortly before Pence’s comments on CNN, Trump posted on social media about “great Russian progress” regarding the meeting, while also criticizing media coverage of his discussions with Putin. “Fake news twists the truth about me,” he stated, highlighting the complexity of media narratives around his presidency and international relations.
