Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, responding to the shock information that President Joe Biden had arrived in Kyiv, downplayed Russia’s navy threat to better Europe on Monday as “third-rate” and criticized the administration’s assist to Ukraine as a “blank-check coverage.”
“The concern of Russia going into NATO international locations and all that and steamrolling, you already know, that has not even come near occurring,” the Republican governor mentioned on Fox’s “Fox & Buddies,” showing from New York. “I feel they’ve proven themselves to be a third-rate navy energy.”
The U.S. has decided Russia is committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine, Vice President Kamala Harris introduced on Saturday, a yr into the most important floor struggle in Europe since World Warfare II.
DeSantis, who is taken into account a probable candidate for the Republican presidential nomination subsequent yr, criticized Biden and his administration for visiting Ukraine as an alternative of specializing in different priorities.
“He’s very involved about these borders midway all over the world. He’s not carried out something to safe our personal border right here at dwelling,” DeSantis mentioned, referring to the southern border.
Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), whereas giving “kudos” to Biden for visiting Ukraine, instructed the president ought to have as an alternative visited the positioning of this month’s toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
“There are lots of people right here within the U.S. that will say he in all probability ought to have gone to Ohio and visited with the individuals who have been troubled by the derailment first,” Kustoff mentioned on Fox Enterprise, additionally criticizing the quantity of spending on assist to Ukraine.
Biden visited Kyiv on Monday morning to point out solidarity, a shock look marking the anniversary since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. In an deal with with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden additionally introduced a brand new half-billion-dollar weapons bundle to Ukraine.
The administration has “no clear strategic goal recognized” because it gives assist, DeSantis mentioned.
“And I don’t assume it’s in our curiosity to be stepping into proxy struggle with China, getting concerned over issues just like the borderlands or over Crimea,” he mentioned. Whereas Russia is “hostile,” he mentioned, China poses an even bigger threat.
The Biden administration has repeatedly disputed the concept it’s offering clean checks to Ukraine.
“There’s been no clean checks,” Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby mentioned this week on Fox’s “Fox Information Sunday.” “Each single merchandise that we now have despatched in to Ukraine has been carried out in full session with the Congress.”
