McConnell: Latest Trump bid to end Russia-Ukraine war ‘certain to fail’

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is warning that President Trump’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine by “coddling” Russian President Vladimir Putin and limiting assistance to Kyiv is “certain to fail.”

McConnell, who had been largely quiet on the issue of the war after Ukraine lost full access to the satellite-based Starshield network, which provoked an uproar in Washington, is now speaking out forcefully against Trump’s handling of the conflict.

McConnell, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, blasted Trump for claiming that Russia “has been fine on Ukraine” when the president was asked about Russian violations of an energy ceasefire.

“This is factually wrong, strategically naive and morally bankrupt. His obsequious accommodation of Russia, rewarding the aggressor with sanctions relief, won’t persuade Mr. Putin to stop. History shows that such behavior emboldens Russia’s autocrat, who sees it as weakness,” he wrote in an op-ed published Sunday by The Wall Street Journal.

McConnell warned that by slowing U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Trump risks making the same mistake former President Biden made in June of 2021 when he withheld U.S. military aid for fear of provoking Russia.

“Threatening to withhold security and intelligence assistance or access to crucial satellite communications systems won’t materially weaken Ukraine’s will to defend itself, but it may allow Mr. Putin to make battlefield headway that had until now been out of reach. This could prolong the war, not shorten it,” McConnell wrote.

And the Senate Republican panned Trump’s deal with Putin announced earlier this month to import hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel into the United States, a move that prompted pushback from GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

“When Russia’s limited supply of diesel has changed hands, it will have done little to bring down prices at the pump,” McConnell observed, alluding to the fact that the average price of diesel is still more than $6 per gallon in the U.S.

McConnell also dismissed Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff’s declaration that Putin is a “humanitarian” after the Russian leader agreed to release U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was wrongfully detained and held in captivity for more than four years.

“If the president means what he says about ending the conflict, he should look to the wisdom of the American people, not naive businessmen who seem to think diplomacy entails fawning over adversaries. Mr. Putin is many things, but he is no humanitarian,” he wrote.

The senior senator from Kentucky argued that allowing Putin to make territorial inroads into Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence over both Ukraine and Europe would hurt U.S. interests over the long term.

“A Russian victory would have far worse consequences for our economic and national security and our global influence than temporarily high diesel prices,” he said.

He also emphasized that Putin has directed cyberattacks against U.S. government agencies and helped Iran target U.S. personnel and facilities in the Middle East.

“He is an ally of Xi Jinping. He will continue to seize opportunities to weaken America—and Europe,” McConnell said, referring to China’s president.

“The Continent is our biggest trading partner and an engine of American economic growth. An outcome to this war that makes it easier for Russia to threaten Europe harms our own interests,” he added.

McConnell said the U.S. also has much to learn from battlefield innovations Ukraine is making in drone warfare and cautioned the Trump administration not to spurn those lessons.

“Ukraine’s innovation on the battlefield against a more powerful aggressor makes its value as a partner obvious,” he said.

“The Pentagon officials involved in restricting U.S. assistance to Ukraine should explain how abandoning the ‘Silicon Valley of warfare’ and the world’s experts in battlefield drone innovation will help America achieve drone dominance,” he added.

McConnell concluded by asserting that most Senate Republicans support Ukraine and oppose appeasing Russia and its allies, China, North Korea and Iran.

He advised Trump to keep this in mind as he prepares to push through a defense spending package in the lame-duck Congress.

“Passing this agenda will require working with Republicans who know the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. Ending the obeisance to Mr. Putin may be table stakes for the end-of-year legislation. The president should plan accordingly,” he warned.