Ukraine largely absent from Republican midterm convention stage, but party members weigh in offstage

As the Republican Party hosted its inaugural national midterm convention in Dallas, neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance prioritized Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine in their speeches. The event primarily centered on domestic issues and the president's agenda, with more than 100 speakers addressing the crowd. Despite this, many Republican lawmakers, activists, and voters addressed the Kyiv Independent, expressing differing opinions on U.S. involvement in Ukraine.

Some lawmakers, like Louisiana state Senator Michael Fesi, acknowledged the challenges of addressing foreign policy during election cycles, stating that such issues are often pushed aside due to the focus on election-related matters. Meanwhile, others, like Greg Gandrud, a businessman from California, called for peace between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the need to prevent further loss of life.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Kyiv prior to the convention, in an effort to explore potential peace negotiations. However, tensions remained high, with far-right influencer Laura Loomer accusing Russia of violating a temporary ceasefire and calling Putin a "pathological liar" and the leader of a "terrorist state."

On the topic of military assistance, several Republicans expressed support for providing Ukraine with more U.S.-made Patriot systems for air defense. However, they also noted the limitations of available supplies, including the shortage of Patriots for potential conflicts with Iran. Some, like Conrad Mazeika of the Baltic American Freedom League, advocated for a more comprehensive approach, including the construction and delivery of Patriot systems to Ukraine and the establishment of a long-term strategic military partnership between the two nations.