Schiff Discusses Trump’s Trustworthiness Amid Ukraine-Russia Talks
California Senator Adam Schiff had a challenging exchange with CNN’s Jake Tapper regarding President Donald Trump’s credibility in efforts to foster peace between Ukraine and Russia. This discussion followed a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, where they aimed to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Before confirming that no official agreement had been reached, Tapper pointed out the failures in former President Joe Biden’s approach to Ukraine. Schiff expressed his support for any attempts to halt the violence but emphasized that a more effective strategy would have included strong military support for Ukraine, along with crucial resources like fuel supply.
The Trump-Putin meeting came after Trump advocated for ongoing peace talks while warning Putin about potential sanctions if negotiations stalled. The discussion highlighted that the conflict, which initially began during the Obama era, escalated under Biden’s watch, with his administration committing billions in aid to Ukraine. Schiff indicated that he believes the Trump administration had begun to withdraw military support and NATO prospects for Ukraine.
“I agree, Biden’s approach hasn’t worked,” Schiff stated, adding that Ukraine might require military advantages that should have been provided earlier. He highlighted that there is a bipartisan effort in Congress to sanction Russia, but noted that progress has been stifled.
As tensions escalated, Biden implemented sanctions on two major Russian banks and took steps to restrict investments and trade in the disputed regions of Ukraine. Just before Russia invaded Kiev, Biden announced plans to reinstate sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, pledging to take further action in response to Russia’s continued aggression. He asserted that the US and its allies would hold Russia accountable.
In response, Putin alluded to the US and NATO, stating that Russia’s reaction to threats would be swift and unprecedented. Meanwhile, since returning to the White House, Trump has been vocal about seeking peace between the two nations, a commitment he made during his presidential campaign.
