Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has issued a stern warning to Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader’s disrespectful behavior in the White House last week.
During the latest episode of “The Verdict” podcast, Cruz discussed the tense exchange Zelensky had with President Donald Trump and VP J.D. Vance on Friday.
“My view is America first, which means I want our allies to be strong, and I want our enemies to be weak,” Cruz said.
“It’s the reason I’ve urged President Trump, yes, you campaigned on we should end the war in Europe.
“Enough is enough,” the senator warned.
“Stop sending money, but we want a negotiated outcome that is a clear loss for Russia.
“Why? Because Russia is our enemy.
“Putin is our enemy, and we don’t want our enemy made stronger,” he said.
Cruz explained that Zelensky’s performance was “so bad, so outrageous, so infuriating, that Zelensky increased the chances of an outcome that benefits Putin, and that is bad for Ukraine, bad for America, and bad for the world.”
Despite Trump’s efforts to secure a win-win peace deal for Ukraine and Russia, Zelensky made it clear that he is seeking “security guarantees” in order to agree to peace.
However, “security guarantees” amount to U.S. troops on the ground in a show of aggression against Russia.
“I say, great if Europe wants to step up and fund the war for another year, knock yourselves out, guys — like our checkbook is done,” Cruz said.
“But it is striking.
“It’s an indication of just how disastrous Zelensky’s meeting was that he immediately ran to the United Kingdom, to France, to meet with the King of England,” he continued.
“I’m all for the Europeans stepping in and doing everything they can if they want to do that,” Cruz later added.
“Knock yourself out.”
“They’re welcome to spend their money, but we’re not the welfare provider for the world, and to be clear, why are we borrowing — when we’ve got $36 trillion in debt — why are we borrowing money from China to give it to other countries?” he asked.
Cruz noted that Zelensky was at the White House to sign another agreement — the minerals deal — which was already agreed to and would have been great for Ukraine and the United States.
The deal aims to give Ukraine an opportunity to pay American taxpayers back for the aid they provided while simultaneously preventing further aggression toward a nation that is strategically connected to the United States.
It was widely regarded as a win-win deal for all involved.
“I think the White House thought Zelensky was going to show up, sign the agreement, and leave,” Cruz added.
“He didn’t. Instead, he put on this performance.”
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Zelensky this week continued to reject talks of peace, asserting that a deal to end the war “is still very, very far away.”
President Trump is still not having that.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” he warned.
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” Trump added.
“What are they thinking?”
Trump kicked Zelensky out on Friday after his and Vance’s smackdown.
On Monday, Zelensky announced that he’s now “ready” to sign the peace deal.
However, Trump responded by demanding a “public apology” from Zelensky.
