‘Trump and His Envoys Are Working for Putin, Not the US,’ Top Democrats Warn

Three prominent US Democrats, Gregory Meeks, Adam Smith, and Jack Reed, strongly criticized President Donald Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, for allegedly working against the interests of the United States and Ukraine. In a joint statement, the lawmakers accused the envoys of undermining Ukraine's capacity to defend itself against Russia's invasion, pressuring Kyiv to give up sovereign territory, and promoting Kremlin demands that jeopardize NATO and US national security.

Meeks, Smith, and Reed emphasized that the envoys' actions were detrimental to Ukraine, which has been effectively fighting Russian forces and diminishing the Russian economy. The lawmakers warned that the envoys' efforts to renegotiate European security and potentially reduce the Western military presence in Eastern Europe violated NATO's successful history and threatened global stability.

They also accused the envoys of bypassing US intelligence and the State Department, and of treating Ukraine's fight for survival as a real estate deal.

The lawmakers condemned proposals that could weaken NATO's post-Cold War security agreements and facilitate Russian demands for reduced Western military presence in Eastern Europe. They argued that such a move would only benefit Russia and pose severe consequences for the US and the world. Additionally, the Democrats criticized what they deemed the administration's focus on transactional diplomacy, which they believed compromised America's national security interests.

The lawmakers' statement came amid President Volodymyr Zelensky's rejection of US pressure to surrender territory in Donbas, during a press conference in Dublin. Zelensky rejected the notion that Ukraine should cede land to end the war, stating that no independent, sovereign nation would agree to such a proposal.

The lawmakers warned that weakening Ukraine and appeasing Putin would not lead to lasting peace but would reward Russian aggression. They emphasized that Congress and the American people understand that Putin responds best to strength, and that negotiating away pressure on Moscow while undermining Ukraine is not a successful strategy.

The lawmakers also criticized the administration's proposals that could undermine NATO's post-Cold War security arrangements, arguing that such a move would only benefit Russia and pose grave consequences for America and the world. They urged Congress and the American public to maintain their support for Ukraine and NATO, as doing so serves both strategic and moral interests.