Russian President Vladimir Putin "is playing us" by agreeing to a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, former House Intelligence Chairman Pete Hoekstra said Thursday on
Newsmax TV's "America's Forum."
"Let's see what happens on Sunday and Monday," said Hoekstra, who appeared on Newsmax TV alongside former presidential adviser Pat Buchanan. "My guess is that this doesn't change the substance. He's going to continue to be aggressive in Europe and he's going to continue being aggressive in other parts of the world."
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on DIRECTV Ch. 349 and DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system – Click Here Now
After 16 hours of talks between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, Putin agreed to a comprehensive
peace deal for eastern Ukraine. It takes effect on Sunday.
French President Francois Hollande said that there was "an agreement on a cease-fire and on a global political settlement of the Ukrainian conflict … that will include all issues, from the cease-fire to the control of the border, to decentralization, and, of course, the pullback of heavy weapons and resuming economic relations."
Buchanan said he's pleased with the truce, but skeptical it will hold.
"Skepticism is certainly justified, but I'm heartened by this," he said. "The president did the right thing in not sending lethal defensive weapons like these Javelin missiles to Ukraine. Putin would like to end this particular war backing the rebels and look like a victor here.
"The Ukrainian government is in such a situation that it cannot win a war with Russia. The more it escalates, the more dead Ukrainians on all sides."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.