U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and U.S. Representative Mike Rogers have issued a statement in response to recent developments involving Russia and Ukraine. Reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin visited troops at the Kursk front, with the Kremlin dismissing a proposed peace deal with Ukraine as merely “a temporary time-out.”
In their joint statement, Chairman Wicker and Chairman Rogers criticized Putin’s stance, saying, “President Trump and President Zelenskyy both have shown resolve by working toward an enduring peace, but dictator Putin has once again signaled no interest in that outcome.” They further stated that “President Biden failed to stop Russia’s full-scale invasion because Vladimir Putin responds only to strength. Thankfully, President Trump understands this reality.”
The chairmen expressed support for imposing large-scale sanctions on Russia if it continues to hinder efforts to end the conflict. They commended the Trump administration for closing what they described as a loophole in Biden-era banking sanctions that permitted the purchase of Russian energy, which they claim funded Putin’s military operations.
Wicker and Rogers emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukraine from the United States and NATO allies until Russia ceases its military actions. They concluded by stating, “We must make clear that the costs of continuing the bloodshed will far exceed anything Putin has experienced to date.”
