{"id":50895,"date":"2026-10-18T15:56:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T15:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/even-donald-trumps-former-vice-president-says-hes-got-it-wrong-on-ukraine\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T15:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T15:56:24","slug":"even-donald-trumps-former-vice-president-says-hes-got-it-wrong-on-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/even-donald-trumps-former-vice-president-says-hes-got-it-wrong-on-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Even Donald Trump’s Former Vice-President Says He’s Got It Wrong On Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"DonaldDonald Trump listens to then-Vice President Mike Pence in the Rose Garden of the White House in 2020.<\/div>\n
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Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> former vice-president has slammed his decision to waive sanctions against Russia as the war in Ukraine<\/a> goes on.<\/p>\n

Mike Pence <\/a>said the move\u00a0\u201cis decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed\u201d.<\/p>\n

The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act last month, and it was then signed into law by Trump himself.<\/p>\n

It gave the president the power to impose extensive new tariffs and sanctions on Russia and countries that buy energy products and other critical exports from the country as its war on Ukraine continues.<\/p>\n

But Trump announced he was blocking the new sanctions just two days before they were due to come into force.<\/p>\n

In a post on X, Pence \u2013 who has become a fierce critic of Trump \u2013 condemned the move.<\/p>\n

He said:\u00a0\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s decision to waive sanctions against Russia as Putin continues his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine dishonors the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Graham and is decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutin is a war criminal and only understands strength. Waiving Graham Act sanctions on Russia signals weakness at a moment that demands American strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is the time to stand strong against Russian aggression, just as we did during the years of the first Trump Administration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pence said that if Ukraine won the war, it\u00a0\u201cwould be a victory for freedom and is squarely in the national interests of the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIf Putin overruns Ukraine, I have no doubt it will only be a matter of time until Russia\u2019s military crosses a border that our troops will have to deal with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the cause of freedom, for America\u2019s national security and that of our allies including Ukraine, President Trump should restore sanctions under the Graham Act immediately, rescind the diesel deal with Russia<\/a> and rally our allies to ensure Ukraine has the military support it needs to repel and defeat this Russian invasion once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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President Trump\u2019s decision to waive sanctions against Russia as Putin continues his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine dishonors the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Graham and is decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed.<\/p>\n

Putin\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/imJgpwZsbj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Trump has faced accusations that he limited Ukraine\u2019s access to the Starshield network which helps to protect the country from Russian attacks.<\/p>\n

The president has also called for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> to be replaced while agreeing a sanctions-busting deal with Vladimir Putin<\/a> to buy Russian diesel.<\/p>\n

Critics have said that is a desperate attempt to bring down pump prices for American motorists ahead of next month\u2019s midterm elections, which Trump\u2019s Republican Party is expected to lose heavily.<\/p>\n

Former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind described Trump\u2019s behaviour as\u00a0\u201crepulsive\u201d and\u00a0\u201ca disgrace\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Listen to Commons People, <\/a>the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week,\u00a0Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week\u2019s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what\u2019s going on at Westminster.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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