Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) defended GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump saying the Russia-Ukraine conflict should finish via negotiation in an interview Sunday relatively than relying on a Ukrainian victory.
“I am not on Russia’s aspect — however sadly the truth of it’s that the way in which the conflict in Ukraine goes to finish is with a negotiated settlement,” Rubio mentioned in an interview with Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And I need, and we wish, and, I consider Donald Trump desires, for Ukraine to have extra leverage in that negotiation.”
Rubio, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, mentioned he didn’t know “why we are able to’t simply say that” with reference to Trump’s proposed negotiated deal.
On Wednesday, Trump gave one of his strongest signals so far that he will not fully back Ukraine’s aims, saying Ukraine ought to have “given up a bit of bit” at a marketing campaign occasion in North Carolina. On Friday, after assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump supported a negotiated deal, saying, “It takes two to tango, and we’ll.” And when requested straight, the previous president denied two alternatives to say he wished Ukraine to win over the past presidential debate towards Vice President Kamala Harris.
Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s supporters have insisted that every one of Ukraine’s occupied territory have to be restored. However Rubio added that the Biden administration, if pressed on what victory seems like for Ukraine, would additionally agree {that a} negotiation is the top end result.
“We hope that when that point comes there may be extra leverage on the Ukrainian aspect than on the Russian aspect. That basically is the objective right here in my thoughts,” Rubio mentioned. “And I feel that is what Donald Trump is making an attempt to say, however he will say it like a businessman. However Biden will not even inform us what victory is.”
The Florida senator additionally danced round supporting Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance for saying {that a} peaceable settlement may seem like “the present line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine, that turns into like a demilitarized zone” on a podcast lately.
“I feel what the deal seems like shall be as much as the events after they negotiate it. Clearly, Zelenskyy will not be going to return on the market and say, from a negotiating standpoint will not be going to go on the market and predetermine what it seems like,” Rubio mentioned. “So I perceive why he would not need to go on the market and outline what it seems like on the entrance finish.”
He added, “However I feel we, as Individuals, the truth of it’s we’re investing billions of {dollars} into this effort, and it is necessary that as we make investments this cash into this effort that we inform the American taxpayer, ‘That is what the cash’s going towards.’ Finally, it is not limitless conflict, proper?”
When pressed on whether or not he can be comfy with accepting the demarcation settlement Vance proposed, Rubio dodged, saying he can be comfy with a negotiated deal that ends hostilities and favors Ukraine, “that means that they’ve their very own sovereignty.” He reiterated that he wouldn’t “prejudge any settlement” when requested if which means he didn’t help Vance’s claims.
“Crucial factor right here is that these hostilities finish and that Ukraine can return to rebuilding its economic system and other people can transfer again. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have needed to depart that nation,” Rubio mentioned. “It has been devastating to them. However that negotiation goes to be as much as them. I simply need them to have extra leverage than Putin.”
