Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner faced a difficult line of questioning during a live television appearance Sunday, struggling to clearly articulate former President Donald Trump's position on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
A Tense Exchange on "This Week"
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," host Jonathan Karl pressed Turner to clarify which side Trump supports in the conflict. Turner's response was hesitant. He shakily told Karl that "clearly, Trump is on the side of peace," and described the former president's role as trying to "balance these two forces" to bring the warring parties together.
The interview grew more contentious when Karl challenged Turner on Trump's past remarks blaming Ukraine for starting the war. The host pointed out that Trump has repeatedly suggested Ukraine should not have initiated the conflict, a claim at odds with the reality of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "Ukraine didn't start this war! They were invaded," Karl stated, asking how such comments affect Trump's credibility as a potential peace broker.
Turner's Evasive Answers and Contradictions
While Turner agreed with the host's assertion that Russia was the aggressor, saying "a war of aggression is started by Russia — and it has been started by Russia," he avoided directly answering the question about Trump's contradictory statements. Instead, he pivoted to praising Trump's desire for peace as "incredibly important" and a "noble goal."
Earlier in the same interview, Turner made a firm declaration seemingly at odds with any pro-Russian sentiment. "You can't be America first and be pro-Russia," he stated, labeling Russia a "self-declared adversary of the United States" that is "mercilessly killing Ukrainians and trying to take Ukrainian land."
Diplomatic Moves and a Path Forward?
Amid the political sparring, Turner expressed cautious optimism about potential peace talks. He noted that he believes "we're getting closer" and suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing a "workable" plan. Turner added that security assurances from European allies, alongside the United States, could help deter Russia in the future.
The interview aired on the same day Trump hosted President Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Their meeting aimed to discuss a U.S.-brokered peace plan to end the war. In a notable parallel diplomatic move, Trump also revealed on his Truth Social platform that he had a "good and very productive" call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Zelenskyy meeting, underscoring his continued direct engagement with both sides of the conflict.
The episode highlights the ongoing political challenges in articulating a cohesive U.S. stance on the Ukraine war, particularly as the former president and current candidate actively engages in personal diplomacy while making statements that often conflict with established facts of the conflict.
