PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Central Illinois’ representatives in the U.S. Congress are wary about trusting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Congressmen Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) and Eric Sorensen (D-Moline) shared their views with 25 News as Putin and President Donald Trump met face-to-face Friday in Anchorage, Alaska.
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” the U.S. president said, after Putin claimed they had hammered out an “understanding” on Ukraine and warned Europe not to “torpedo the nascent progress.”
LaHood told 25News, “I think what we’re realizing is that Putin is a thug, he is a dictator, he is an international war criminal. He can’t be trusted,” LaHood said. “I think President Trump thought he could trust him. That clearly is not the case. I think he is a deceitful person.”
Sorensen rarely praises Trump, but he did on this occasion.
“I’m pleased to see that President Trump has come around, that we cannot believe what Vladimir Putin says,” Sorensen said.
LaHood acknowledged that Trump has taken major steps in supporting Ukraine after his fiery Oval Office exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. But, LaHood wants Ukraine to get more U.S. aid.
“I think we’ve got to continue to support Ukraine. I think there are many other ways we can support democracy and freedom-seeking for the people in Ukraine,” LaHood said.
Sorensen pointed out that it’s vital for the U.S. to stand by Ukraine not just for its sovereignty, but also to end any potential threats to all of Europe.
“We need to see it through, because if Russia were to take Ukraine, it would go to the Baltics next, and we would have a much bigger problem on our hands.”
Both lawmakers expressed thanks for one aspect of this conflict in that U.S. troops are not involved.
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