Several prominent Republicans have spoken out against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ claim that defending Ukraine against a Russian invasion is not in the US’s vital interest, warning that withholding support may start a poor cycle of events that spreads over the globe.
On Sunday, US Senator Mike Rounds vehemently disagreed with DeSantis’ description of the conflict as a territorial issue, contending that the outcome of the invasion will have more significant global effects.
Rounds cautioned that cutting off funding for Ukraine would signal to Beijing’s and Moscow’s leaders that the US would no longer be a player on the international stage, which the senator said may have long-term repercussions. Sen. Mike Rounds of the US disagrees with DeSantis’ classification of the conflict as a territorial issue.
DeSantis stated last Monday that getting more embroiled in a territorial conflict between Ukraine and Russia would be unwise during an interview with Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson and is not of vital interest to the US.
Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire disagreed with DeSantis’ viewpoint and accused him of engaging in partisan politics in preparation for his anticipated 2024 presidential run.
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Ron DeSantis’ Stance on Helping Ukraine
Sununu, who is thinking about running for president himself, stated in an opinion article he published for the New York Times on Saturday: “just rejecting aid to Ukraine because President Biden favors it is not a sustainable foreign policy. Abandoning Ukraine would have detrimental effects on US interests both at home and internationally.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) claimed that opposing Russia in Ukraine also communicates with China. Russian forces are occupying territory, but “this is bigger than that for us,” Rounds said. Chinese President Xi Jinping is keeping an eye on the situation, and if the United States fails to help Ukraine, Xi may interpret it as a sign that China can make similar moves in Taiwan without encountering American interference.
The conflict in Ukraine has caused division within the Republican Party recently. Some see it through a Cold War lens, while others argue that Americans are more concerned with other issues. DeSantis joined other Republicans in the latter camp with his statement from last week, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
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