Putin Throws Cold Water on Republican Talking Point About a Peace Deal in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin blew up a Republican talking point about reaching a peace agreement with Russia amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

GOP support for Ukraine has waned since the invasion in February 2022, with House Republicans in particular souring over aid packages to the besieged country. On the Republican presidential campaign trail, candidate Ron DeSantis has suggested a ceasefire could be reached. Meanwhile, rival Vivek Ramaswamy has said the U.S. should stop sending aid and help negotiate a peace treaty.

However, Putin has not shown any signs indicating he would be open to such negotiations. And on Thursday, he squashed all doubt during a four-hour news conference.

“Peace will come when we reach our goals that you have mentioned,” Putin told his interviewer on Russian TV. “And coming back to the goals, they remain unchanged… So we have other opportunities to either come to terms to have our way compellingly.”

Putin reiterated those goals.

“Let’s return to these goals: they have not changed,” he said. “I’ll remind you of what we talked about then: the denazification of Ukraine, its demilitarization, its neutral status.”

Putin has accused the Ukrainian government of being full of Nazis despite the fact its president is Jewish. The Russian leader has made clear he wants regime change in the country, as well as the elimination of its military.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was on Capitol Hill and at the White House this week trying to rally support for the cause, though he received a cool reception from some Republicans.

Watch above via MSNBC.