China is watching as President Donald Trump pushes for a diplomatic answer to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s battle in Ukraine, Sen. Lindsey Graham informed NBC’s Kristen Welker in an interview that aired Sunday.
The stakes?
“If it ends in a approach that appears like that Putin’s overly rewarded, there goes Taiwan,” Graham (R-S.C.) mentioned on “Meet the Press.”
Trump’s newest gambit to finish the battle, now greater than six months into his new time period, will see him meet with Putin in Alaska this Friday, the primary time Russia’s president will set foot within the U.S. in roughly a decade.
It comes after Putin final week introduced particular envoy Steve Witkoff with a ceasefire provide, and Trump on Friday instructed “there’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of each” sides in peace talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday morning flatly rejected the concept that Kyiv may half with territory in negotiations to cease the combating.
Graham, who informed Welker he hopes “Zelenskyy will be a part of the method,” mentioned different components of peace talks will govern whether or not a deal is smart for Ukraine and its companions.
“What would a superb deal appear like? Ensuring that 2022 doesn’t occur once more,” he informed Welker, referencing the beginning of the present battle. “On Biden’s watch and Obama’s watch, Russia invades. The purpose for me, and I believe President Trump, is to finish it ceaselessly. Now, what would that appear like? You’ll have some land swaps, however solely after you’ve safety ensures to Ukraine to stop Russia from doing this once more.”
China, a serious purchaser of Russian oil, is on the president’s thoughts, Graham mentioned, simply days after the White Home introduced that tariffs on India could be hiked to 50 % for its personal consumption of oil from Russia.
“I’m right here to inform you that President Trump will finish this battle in a technique to stop a 3rd invasion and to not entice China to take Taiwan,” Graham mentioned. “We’re not out to humiliate Putin, we’re out to get a deal to verify there’s no third invasion.”