Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, has expressed support for President Trump’s decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Graham cited former President Ronald Reagan’s summit with former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev before the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. Trump is proposing that Eastern European nations swap territory to fast track a peace deal, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea and urged the U.S. to give Kyiv a seat at the table. Trump also brushed off reports that he wanted Putin and Zelensky to speak first.
The highly anticipated conversation comes as criticism mounts following Trump’s unfulfilled threat to hit Russia with new sanctions. Trump initially gave Putin about 50-days to accept terms for a ceasefire but later shortened the timeline as the Kremlin continued to strike Ukraine. Trump has announced up to 50% tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, a move that has seemingly only pushed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi closer to Russia.
Lawmakers have largely left the implementation of sanctions in Trump’s hands. Graham praised Trump for being willing to speak with Putin directly before imposing financial restrictions. Putin has touted strong relationships with Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Modi recently spoke via phone and touted their alliance.
