US biased against Ukraine, peace plan needs to be rewritten - White House senators' opinion
A White House senator has expressed the opinion that the US president expects Ukraine to sign a peace plan without security guarantees. In his opinion, the US negotiators should be replaced because they are probably promoting the Russian Federation's narrative.
He said this in a commentary for the Suspilne newspaper.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal is concerned that US President Donald Trump is pushing Ukraine to quickly sign a peace agreement without security guarantees and believes that negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner should be replaced. He also hopes that Congress will move forward with additional sanctions and recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism for kidnapping Ukrainian children.
I am deeply concerned that [Trump] seems to be leaving Ukraine to its own devices. Forcing it to make territorial concessions that are unjust and unwise, and depriving it of the military assistance it needs to defend itself against Putin's slaughter," Blumenthal said.
Commenting on the peace talks, Blumenthal noted the unequal demands on Ukraine and the Russian Federation. According to the senator, Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner are pushing an unfair peace plan. The clauses of the agreement presuppose significant concessions from Ukraine, in particular - territorial, while the Kremlin is expected only to sign.
They seem to be biased towards Ukraine. I think Trump needs new envoys - Witkoff and Kushner seem to side with Russia instead of being impartial or objective negotiators. And the whole "peace plan" needs to be thrown out. They need to go back to square one, " he stated.
The senator also commented on Trump's statement about the need to hold elections in Ukraine.
It seems that Trump is appeasing Putin. And elections are just another step to what he is trying to do Putin. Putin is not holding elections. Zelensky doesn't need too, " Blumenthal is convinced.
Two other senators from the Democratic and Republican parties also in a commentary for Suspilne noted the need to continue efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen stressed that Ukraine should not be put on a tight timeline for signing the agreement and instead the United States should support the defensive side more and impose sanctions against Russia, including secondary sanctions.
The only thing Russia is responding to is pressure from the United States and Europe, so we need to provide more weapons to Ukraine. We need to provide more support. And impose sanctions, secondary sanctions ," Shaheen noted.