WASHINGTON – Representative Mike Turner on Sunday expressed concern over reported efforts to prioritize communication with RussiaS Vladimir Putin over Ukraine’s volodymyr Zelenskyy as negotiators work to find a path to end the war in Ukraine,stating,”You can’t be America first and pro-Russia.”
Turner’s remarks came after a meeting between Senators Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio with individuals involved in potential negotiations, including Andrew Witkoff, whose past interactions with a Kremlin aide-detailed in a Bloomberg article-raised questions about the sequencing of outreach to the two leaders. Turner specifically highlighted the concern that Putin may be given an prospect to speak with former President Trump before Zelenskyy, arguing Ukraine’s sovereignty and security must be paramount.
The closed-door meetings signal a renewed, though delicate, push to broker an end to the conflict, now in its third year and marked by ongoing russian attacks targeting Ukrainian civilians. Rubio characterized the day’s session as “another very productive session,” emphasizing a “shared vision” to end the war and ensure Ukraine’s long-term security. However, he acknowledged “more work to be done,” noting the complexity of the situation and the need for Russia’s involvement in any resolution.
Turner voiced reservations about interpreting isolated moments from lengthy negotiations but stressed the importance of ensuring Zelenskyy’s voice is heard directly by Trump, stating, “President Trump needs to be able to hear Zelenskyy’s voice clearly, and not just the authoritarian, murderous Putin.” He underscored the devastating impact of the war on the Ukrainian people, describing the ongoing bombing campaign as “murderously killing civilians.”
Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow later this week to continue discussions, according to Rubio. the senator reiterated the intention to find a resolution while concurrently working to “help Ukraine be safe forever,” but cautioned that the process remains “delicate” and “complicated.”
