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Several high-profile Republicans are pushing back Tuesday against Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ argument that helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s invading forces isn’t a vital national interest.
In response to a questionnaire sent by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, DeSantis, who has reportedly told allies in private that he plans to run for president in 2024, declared Monday that “becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not” of vital interest to the US.
DeSantis also ripped the Biden administration for giving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky what he called “virtual ‘blank check’ funding” for the conflict that “distracts from our country’s most pressing challenges.”
During an appearance on the “Hugh Hewitt Show” Tuesday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) argued that Russia’s interest in Ukraine is not so much about territory, but rather dominating the former Soviet state.
“Well, it’s not a territorial dispute in the sense that any more than it would be a territorial dispute if the United States decided that it wanted to invade Canada or take over the Bahamas,” Rubio told Hewitt. “Just because someone claims something doesn’t mean it belongs to them.”
Rubio added that Russia’s end goal is to overthrow the Ukrainian government and rule the country, and he said the war should not be compared to other conflicts or territorial disputes settled with treaties or peace agreements.
