Pence Presses Trump to Strike Hard Against Russia: 'Putin Won't Stop Until He's Stopped'

Mike Pence Urges Trump to Increase Pressure on Russia

Former Vice President Mike Pence has called on President Donald Trump to take stronger action against Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that the administration should apply more pressure through sanctions. During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Pence expressed his belief that Trump’s approach to dealing with dictators like Putin is too lenient.

Pence acknowledged Trump’s efforts to seek peace in Ukraine following the recent Alaska summit with Putin but emphasized the need for additional measures. He described Trump's current strategy as using a “velvet glove” and argued that the “hammer” needs to be brought down immediately.

“I served alongside the president for four years. I know his style in dealing with these dictators. It’s the velvet glove, but I think the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately,” Pence said.

He also urged Trump to work with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pass a secondary sanctions bill that has broad support among U.S. senators. Pence stressed that Putin should be treated as the “bad guy” during negotiations, highlighting the need for a firm stance.

Sanctions Bill and Political Support

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have been strong advocates for a sanctions bill targeting Russia, with over 80 senators supporting the initiative. However, Trump has dismissed the bill as unnecessary, instead issuing an ultimatum to Putin to take steps toward peace by August 8 or face severe economic consequences.

Despite this, Trump decided to cancel the planned economic penalties and instead held a summit with Putin on Friday. This move has raised concerns among some officials, including Pence, who warned that Putin might be trying to “run out the clock” and delay sanctions that could impact Russia’s economy.

Administration’s Position on Sanctions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the Trump administration’s approach, arguing that imposing additional sanctions could hinder ongoing peace talks. Rubio claimed that no other country can engage with Putin effectively, suggesting that halting sanctions would keep dialogue open.

“You’re saying talks are over. For the foreseeable future, for the next year or year-and-a-half, there’s no more talks, because there’s no one else in the world that can talk to him (Putin),” Rubio said during an interview with Fox News.

However, the summit between Trump and Putin did not result in a ceasefire agreement. Trump has since shifted focus to pursuing a comprehensive peace deal. Pence expressed that he was not surprised by the lack of a ceasefire, noting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously agreed to a truce in February, which Putin rejected.

Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts

Pence highlighted the continued military aggression against civilian populations in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for decisive action. He also mentioned that Trump had indicated he would not be “happy” if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire before the summit.

Trump is set to meet with Zelensky at the White House on Monday. A group of European leaders will accompany Zelensky during his visit, though it is unclear whether they will be present during the White House meeting. Pence expressed hope that the meeting would lead to productive and unifying discussions among Western leaders and Zelensky.