One key question in the 2024 GOP presidential race will be funding Ukraine as it defends against Russia. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shares some of Donald Trump’s isolationist tendencies and may oppose continued aid to Ukraine.
He argued that fighting in Ukraine was no longer essential to America’s national interests, and would condition any further U.S. aid on European nations doing more to aid Ukraine.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis is drawing criticism for suggesting that helping Ukraine ward off Russia’s invasion does not represent an essential national interest. This stance aligns him with President Trump and places him at odds with many top Republicans – including those running to succeed him in 2024.
DeSantis, seen as a potential rival to Trump for the GOP nomination, wrote back to Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s questionnaire and gave an extensive response about why supporting Ukraine was not “vital” national security interest. This response marked DeSantis’ most detailed answer on this subject yet.
DeSantis made an insensitive comment reiterating President Trump’s dismissive description of Russia’s conflict against Ukraine as a territorial dispute, drawing criticism for doing so and later retracting them by acknowledging legitimate borders recognized by international bodies in that region.
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As the presidential campaign continues, Republican candidates must negotiate an intersection between their traditional hawkish-internationalist-neoconservative faction and Donald Trump’s America First faction. Candidates vying for nomination seem largely aligned with either faction; DeSantis’ recent appointment as governor indicates an affinity towards Trump’s America First movement.
Tucker Carlson had sent DeSantis a questionnaire asking about Ukraine, in response to which he stated that aiding Ukraine against Russian invasion wasn’t in America’s vital interests. DeSantis’ comment aligns him with former President Trump – likely his rival for the Republican nomination in 2024 – who similarly asserts that further engagement between America and Russia in territorial disputes would not serve America well. It marked a dramatic departure from many congressional Republicans who support funding Ukraine; DeSantis’ response may indicate a problem within his party in terms of foreign policy direction.
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The 2024 Republican candidates for president are split on how much the U.S. should do to assist Ukraine against an impending Russian invasion, but also whether such conflict serves America’s national interests.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one of Donald Trump’s main rivals in the Republican primary, stated on Fox News this week that opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine wasn’t vitally important to America – an echoing Trump’s view and reflecting growing Republican skepticism over Ukraine conflict.
The next US president must decide if and how his or her country should allocate billions in aid for Ukraine. Achieve settlements and avoid quagmires is no answer – detailed answers must be provided, especially given that American voters will soon be asked to approve billions more in funding this autumn; any answers given here could ultimately determine the fate of America’s aid program in years ahead.
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On Wednesday’s GOP debate, one of the main points was whether or not to continue funding Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. Republican candidates Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis all took different approaches on this question, yet shared one viewpoint that continued aid would depend on whether other European nations step up their contributions.
Issues surrounding DeSantis’ statements erupted when he described Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine as a territorial dispute, prompting some Republicans running for president to view him as out-of-step with many other conservative candidates running today. DeSantis later backpedaled from this position but his lack of clarity on certain key topics shows just how different his approach is from many hawkish Republicans running today.
DeSantis recently replied to questions from Tucker Carlson that were sent out to declared and potential Republican presidential candidates, which included opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine as not “vital to the national interests of the United States.” His viewpoint contrasts with others on the debate stage such as former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who have advocated strongly for increased aid to Ukraine.
