U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) appeared on Fox News Sunday to discuss the ongoing efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as measures against drug trafficking from Venezuela.
During the interview, Schmitt addressed the reported peace plan aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. He stated, “President Trump ran on the idea of resolving this bloody war. This is a meat grinder at this point, and he wants to stop the killing. I think President Trump approaches this as a realist — you take the world as it is, not how you want it to be, not how you wish it would be, but actually how it is. And the truth of the matter is — and a lot of people won’t say it is — the Ukrainians have been losing for a long time. They’ve lost 20 percent of their territory. They have a manpower problem. They have a munitions problem. What President Trump is trying to accomplish is maintain Ukrainian sovereignty, make sure there’s a pathway to rebuild the country, and also lessen the likelihood that this will ever happen again. And so, they put forward a proposal, a framework. Secretary of State Rubio and the Secretary of the Army, Driscoll, they’re all in Geneva right now, working with the Ukrainians, working with the Europeans, to try to get to some consensus here on the 28-point [plan]. I would say that most of those, at least half of those, have been talked about for a long time, and there’s a lot of agreement. So, you have to narrow the gap now and try to get to a place where you recognize the realities on the ground. And, I have to say, that that the Washington consensus has been so wrong about this, Shannon, for so long. They’ve been wrong about a lot of things over the last 30 years. President Trump is coming in and saying, ‘we want to actually end the killing’. Because the people that are critical of this right now, they don’t really have another plan, and they live in this fantasy world that another round of sanctions, or another round of weapons, or another round of cash is going to solve the problem. It won’t. So, I think you recognize the reality, and you try to bring the parties together to end the war and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Schmitt emphasized Ukrainian resilience but suggested current conditions are favorable for peace negotiations: “Let’s be clear, the Ukrainians have been valiant here and very courageous in defending their country. But I think, the situation on the ground now is one that this is ripe again for striking peace. I would say that the issues related to security guarantees and territorial disputes or issues or gains that Russia has made and what would be included — that’s still part of the ongoing negotiation that’s happening right now in Geneva. I don’t think those [points] in particular are set in stone, but I do think there’s a willingness, hopefully, for all parties to come together. Because there really isn’t an alternative here… The people who want to thump their chest and say that this should go on forever are ignoring realities on ground…”
He also called for increased European involvement: “The American people have grown tired [of] sort of Wilsonian adventurism that’s dominated permanent Washington for last 30 years… We live in world of scarcity… It means Europeans have step up much more meaningful way… Percentages GDP don’t go munitions don’t win wars… It’s time Europeans step up much more meaningful way defense their own continent.”
On compromise within peace talks he said: “I think if you’re going get compromise here Russia not going get everything they want Ukraine not going get everything they want That’s nature compromise That’s nature peace deal That’s kind process playing out right now […] The invasion something nobody wanted see I think if President Trump was office never would happened The only time Russia ever moved —whether Crimea or Ukraine— when had weak Democrat presidents who some same folks projecting all advice [on reported peace plan] right now My belief President Trump right guy He’s got right team place broker peace We should all rooting for that.”
Regarding efforts against Venezuelan traffickers Schmitt remarked: “Well we’ve been advised and [Congress] should have our oversight role But truth these core Article II [Constitutional] powers I find interesting The Washington Post always citing anonymous sources all time stories totally bogus lack any legal backing The truth we ought making sure our interests respected our own hemisphere includes having aircraft carriers our own hemisphere It also means taking out narco-terrorists who finding new ways poison Americans The southern border effectively closed Shannon That’s how they got lot poison into America that’s killing up 100000 people year Now they’re open seas high seas we every right blow those boats out water President Trump justified doing it I think just effort kind undermine President’s decision making here which I think Congress supports.”
