Senator Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, has received harsh criticism online for defending Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson aired an interview that he did with Putin earlier in the week on his website on Thursday evening. It was Putin's first interview with Western media since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Tuberville took to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday to share his thoughts about Carlson's sit-down with the Russian leader.
"Last night's @TuckerCarlson's interview with Putin shows that Russia is open to a peace agreement, while it is DC warmongers who want to prolong the war. That is why I'm voting to stop 60 BILLION MORE of our tax dollars to this conflict," the senator wrote.
Newsweek reached out to Tuberville's office via email.
During his interview with Carlson, Putin suggested that Russia was open to peace talks with Ukraine, but claimed that the United States was getting in the way.
"The President of Ukraine [Volodymyr Zelensky] has legislated a ban on negotiating with Russia," the Russian leader said. "He signed a decree forbidding everyone to negotiate with Russia. But how are we going to negotiate if he forbade himself and everyone to do this?"
The Russian leader continued: "We're willing to negotiate. It is the Western side, and Ukraine is obviously a satellite state of the U.S....The current Ukrainian leadership [should] stop and come to a negotiating table, rescind this absurd decree. We did not refuse."
Tuberville's comments sparked backlash from X users who mocked him for believing Putin wants peace.
"If Vladimir Putin says it, it must be true, according to Tommy Tuberville," author and journalist Mark Jacob wrote.
Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch and a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, wrote: "Tuberville believes that Putin wants peace, and the United States wants war. This is the new MAGA Republican Party. Donald Trump's party. Putin First!"
"They don't call Tommy Tuberville America's dumbest Senator for nothing," X account Republicans against Trump wrote.
In an X post on Saturday, which included photos of the aftermath of a fire at a Ukrainian home, Zelensky wrote, "Reality always speakers louder than any words."
He added: "An entire family was killed in a fire last night as a result of a Russian strike on Kharkiv using 'Shahed' drones. Parents and their three children were killed. Russia must be held accountable for every life it has harmed and ruined. This is the only way to make security a reality again."
Newsweek also reached out to the Russian government via online form and Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email for comment.
As the two-year anniversary of Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears, the U.S. Congress remains divided on continuing aid for Ukraine. On Thursday, the Senate voted to advance a foreign aid package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, to debate. The vote was 67 to 32.
While Republican lawmakers' support of funding Ukraine's war is dwindling, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has been pushing for more aid for the war-torn country, along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.
The foreign aid package also includes $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas in Gaza, and $4.83 billion to help America's allies in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. Additionally, the package will give $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to conflict zones like Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Rachel Dobkin is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on politics. Rachel joined Newsweek in ... Read more
