Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., said Wednesday on Newsmax that Russia has no rightful claim to any Ukrainian territory and that Ukraine should ultimately reclaim its land, with Russia paying for reconstruction.
Perry made the remarks during an appearance on "The Chris Salcedo Show" while discussing President Donald Trump’s potential role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"I think President Trump is obviously going to have to clean that up," Perry said in response to whether Trump is prepared to resolve the conflict. "And of course, America can't afford to send any more tax dollars over to that sucking chest wound."
Perry emphasized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was unjustified, reinforcing his stance that any resolution should ensure Ukraine regains full sovereignty.
"I would say this: Russia has no legitimate claim to any of Ukraine’s land, and any deal that's made, I think, should be made in a circumstance where, over time, Ukraine reclaims all of its land and that actually Russia pays for the reconstruction of it," Perry stated.
"This is Putin's war on Ukraine. And Ukraine doesn't deserve to have its sovereignty or its territory taken. And I think that President Trump is the guy that can make this deal."
Perry’s comments come as Trump announced that negotiations to end the war will begin "immediately" following a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday morning, CNN reported.
Meanwhile, new U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a shift in Washington’s position, stating that European nations must take on the "overwhelming" share of funding for Ukraine’s defense. Speaking at a defense summit in Brussels, Hegseth said the U.S. would no longer "tolerate an imbalanced relationship" with its allies and urged NATO members to increase their defense spending.
Hegseth also called it "unrealistic" for Ukraine to expect a return to its pre-2014 borders and downplayed the likelihood of Ukraine joining NATO, according to the BBC.
Perry’s remarks contrast with Hegseth’s stance, reinforcing calls from some Republican lawmakers for a stronger pushback against Russia’s territorial claims. With Trump set to take an active role in negotiations, the future direction of U.S. policy on the conflict remains uncertain.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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