(ConservativeSense.com) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finally takes a more concrete position on the war in Ukraine, diverging from a majority of the Republican Party and siding with his rival, former President Donald Trump.
According to the results of a questionnaire on foreign policy sent out to running and prospective 2024 Republican candidates by Tucker Carlson and aired on Fox News, DeSantis dismissed the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a “territorial dispute” that should not be the main focus of the U.S.
On Monday, Carlson shared the full statement by DeSantis on Twitter.
DeSantis answered that “securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of [China]” should be our primary national interests, not “becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia.”
The Florida governor said that Biden’s approach to funding the conflict indefinitely “distracts from our country’s most pressing challenges.” Although DeSantis said the objective should be peace, the U.S. should avoid providing assistance “that could require the deployment of American troops or enable Ukraine to engage in offensive operations beyond its borders.” Meaning F-16s and long-range missiles should “be off the table.”
He warned that such actions “risk explicitly drawing the United States into the conflict” and “closer to a hot war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers,” which he said was “unacceptable.”
DeSantis’ position echoes that of Trump, who many believe will be challenged by DeSantis for the 2024 Republican nomination. Despite their similar approach to the Ukraine war, neither has outright called for cutting off aid completely.
DeSantis also won’t garner any sympathy from Trump for having the same position on Russia and Ukraine. Trump recognizes the threat his rival poses for the Republican nomination and continues to criticize the Florida governor online and in his speeches.
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