In a potential glimpse of the 2024 showdown, former Vice President Mike Pence disputed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) characterization of the conflict in Ukraine as a “territorial dispute.”
Pence countered that the conflict raging half a world away is not a mere “territorial dispute,” but rather a result of Russian belligerence and reaffirmed his conviction that the United States must stand behind Ukraine.
DESANTIS INVITED TO UKRAINE AMID BACKLASH OVER HIS SKEPTICISM OF US ROLE
“The war going on in Ukraine right now is not a territorial dispute. It is a result of an unprovoked war of aggression by Russia,” Pence stressed on New Hampshire Today, a local radio station, when asked about DeSantis’s remarks.
DeSantis sparked controversy over his answer to Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s questionnaire to 2024 aspirants about their positions on Ukraine.
“While the U.S. has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness with our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party — becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,” DeSantis replied.
The Florida governor, whose foreign policy views are somewhat shrouded in mystery, also emphasized that he believes “peace should be the objective” in Ukraine and opposed the deployment of U.S. troops or armament that would “enable Ukraine to engage in offensive operations beyond its borders.”
Pence drew ire from Carlson for appearing to indicate his belief that backing Ukraine is squarely within U.S. interests and assertion that “there is no room for Putin apologists in the Republican Party.”
“Russia is attempting to redraw international lines by force, which they did under the Bush administration, they did under the Obama administration in Crimea, and now they’ve sought to do so again,” Pence further elaborated to New Hampshire Today. “I strongly support continuing to provide the Ukrainian military the resources necessary to repel that Russian invasion.”
A cacophony of Republicans, including 2024 Republican hopeful Nikki Haley, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), have rebuffed DeSantis’s remarks, showcasing a schism in the GOP over Ukraine. Others in the party, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and former President Donald Trump, have been skeptical of bolstering support for the besieged nation.
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Pence has signaled that a decision about 2024 will come around springtime. He is set to give a speech in New Hampshire at a dinner hosted by the Cheshire County Republican Committee on Thursday. As he mulls a 2024 run, Pence has contrasted himself with other hopefuls, including on issues such as entitlement reform.
He also previously jabbed at DeSantis over the takeover of the Walt Disney Company’s self-governing district. DeSantis is running in second place, while Pence is in third place for a hypothetical 2024 GOP primary, per the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
