Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) condemned the Trump administration over the recent fallout with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky during Friday’s Oval Office meeting broadcasted by the American press.
“This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine,” Murkowski wrote in a Saturday post on X.
“I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world.”
Her stance, notable from a Republican, echoes that of many foreign leaders who labeled the meeting a stark sever in American values, including the country’s tradition of fighting for democracy across the globe.
During the meeting, President Trump and Vice President Vance slammed Zelensky, accusing him of not showing gratitude for the security assistance provided by the U.S. despite the Ukrainian leader’s show of thanks in an early February post on X lauding the new administration for its commitment to peace in Eastern Europe.
In recent weeks, the president has repeatedly sidelined Zelensky from peace negotiation meetings, claiming his Ukrainian counterpart has “no cards” and cannot offer a solution to the ongoing conflict.
After yesterday’s turmoil, the Republican administration again urged Ukraine to elect a new leader to help curb violence within the nation.
Prior to the meeting, the U.S. voted “no” on a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The move was a subtle sign of division between America’s storied allies and a show of relations advancing with Russia, Belarus and North Korea, who also voted no on the resolution.
