Mike Pence
, the ex-vice president for Donald Trump, mildly criticized his former superior late Monday in an exclusive interview on CNN’s “The Source,” hosted by anchor Kaitlan Collins.
When initiating the segment, Collins referred to
Pence’s comments
Perhaps his most significant and incisive departure from Trump.
She stated that the ex-vice president clearly articulated his reasons for disagreeing with Trump’s assertion that Putin seeks peace.
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Collins pointed out that Pence has taken strong positions on foreign policy issues, particularly regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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She questioned him: ‘When President Trump states that he believes President Putin desires peace, would you concur with this statement?’
Pence firmly dismissed the idea, stating he has interacted with Putin and examined his leadership style for many years.
“I believe that over the past three years, one thing has become clear: Vladimir Putin does not seek peace; his aim is to take control of Ukraine. The current situation, where almost two months have passed since Ukraine accepted a ceasefire deal but Russia keeps postponing and offering justifications for their actions, only reinforces this view,” he stated firmly.
Pence stated that Putin “only comprehends strength” and emphasized that this is precisely why the United States needs to assert its ongoing role as the leader of the free world. He added that Washington should continue providing Ukraine with the necessary military assistance to fend off the Russian aggression and secure a fair and enduring peace.
He criticized the Trump administration for its “uncertain stance” toward Ukraine over the past several months, stating that this has only encouraged Russia further.
And he delivered a stark forecast.
“We keep witnessing their ruthless attack on civilians, taking innocent lives,” stated Pence. “Let’s make one thing crystal clear: This isn’t solely about Ukraine for me. If Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, it’s only a question of when he will cross into territories protected under NATO, forcing us to deploy our service members against him. Consider countries like Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—they’re all part of NATO. Should Russia invade these nations, we would be bound by treaty commitments to provide military support.”
In a later part of the discussion, Collins sought Pence’s views on the heated exchange involving Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
She questioned, ‘Could you share what went through your thoughts during the striking Oval Office encounter between President Trump and Vice President Vance as they engaged in a highly charged discussion with President Zelensky? How do you think you might have responded if you had been present in that room that day?’
Once more, Pence distanced himself from his previous employer, and playfully mentioned that he also has participated in many heated discussions in the Oval Office—usually just not captured on film.
“I found it regrettable. I believed President Zelensky should not have presented his case to the press within the Oval Office. Additionally, I felt it was unfortunate how both the president and the administration reacted at that time,” Pence stated.
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- Mike Pence – Raw Story
