Washington – The representative Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, said that European leaders must have a “much stronger message” towards Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine in the middle of the efforts to launch peace talks And a possible agreement to end the war.
“If we want to win, if we want a better result for Ukraine, at the end of these peace talks, you must be uncomfortably aggressive,” Crenshaw said about his message to European leaders on “Facing the Nation with Margaret Brennan “.
Crenshaw, speaking of the Munich Security Conference, was part of a bipartite group of legislators who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the annual security summit in recent days. They also heard of the retired lieutenant-general. Keith KelloggThe American special envoy for Ukraine and Russia who participates in the management of peace talks.
The Texas Republican said Kellogg was “very clear that the type of peace we are talking about is a lasting peace”, which, according to him, will imply security insurance. Crenshaw said that it looked like is still determined, while arguing that Europe should be a major player.
Crenshaw said European countries should not only strengthen their defense expenses, but also talk about “where you are going to put real troops on the ground”.
“Stop following our advance and take the lead,” said Crenshaw. “Let us hold back.
Crenshaw argued that if European leaders want a seat at the table, they should “win it”.
“We listen to Zelenskyy,” said Crenshaw. “And I also want to listen to other European leaders, but I want them to be uncomfortably aggressive, because it gives us more leverage to help Ukraine get out of better results.”
The comments come when the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has aroused criticism even among some Republicans in recent days for having suggested that it was not realistic for Ukraine to expect membership of the ‘NATO. He also questioned that the country will be able to return to its borders before 2014, before Russia first hit Ukraine and annexed Crimea. Hegseth later redirected These comments, saying that “everything is on the table”.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the class democrat also appeared on “Face The Nation” Sunday, said that the administration sends a “mixed message” to Ukraine. She said that she hoped that “the result of this is that we are going to do our best to support Ukraine”.
But Crenshaw defended the posture of the White House to the possible peace talks, saying “you must listen to the White House as a whole,” noting that the administration has clearly indicated that “nothing is outside the table” .
“You enter into a negotiation with everything on the table. And I think that is exactly what this white house does,” said Crenshaw, adding that “there is a path to follow here”, although the details are not yet clear.
Crenshaw acknowledged that the United States had not yet received a commitment to negotiate from Putin, reiterating its request from European leaders to become “uncomfortably aggressive” with the Russian chief, who, according to him, only responds to power”.
