Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Thursday that President Donald Trump deserved “credit” for making a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine a possibility.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both expressed openness to a 30-day ceasefire since Monday. Panetta told “CNN News Central” host Boris Sanchez that Trump would need to “stand strong” against Putin and use “leverage” to end the war. (RELATED: ‘So Depressing To Watch’: MSNBC Guest Chews Up Three Minutes Of Airtime Ranting About Vance Calling Zelenskyy On Carpet)
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“The key to Putin is to make clear that if he doesn’t accept this ceasefire, the United States is going to provide military aid,” Panetta said. “We’re going to provide intelligence. We’re going to provide support to Ukraine so that they can continue the fighting, and Russia will pay the price for that. That’s the hand that the president has. And hopefully he’ll exercise that because that is leverage.”
Trump paused aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Zelenskyy clashed with Trump and Vice President JD Vance during a Feb. 28 meeting in the Oval Office. Trump also threatened further sanctions on Russia Friday if Putin didn’t agree to negotiate for peace.
“This is a test for the president. Whether he is going to stand strong for doing the right thing or whether he caves in to Putin, that’s going to be the issue. And I hope he stands strong. He’s been able to negotiate the possibility of a clean ceasefire. That’s to his credit,” Panetta said. “He can’t now suddenly engage in a series of negotiations on a bunch of other issues that ultimately have to be left to the parties. If you start that process now, you’re going to undermine your ability to get a ceasefire now.”
“That’s going to be what the president has to make clear to Putin is that he has a chance to accept a ceasefire now,” Panetta added. “That will stop the killing. Let’s do that, and then let’s negotiate on the longer-term issues.”
The United States has sent over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, including M1 Abrams tanks, MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missiles, long-range missiles and M864 Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition artillery shells.
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