Politics

Ron DeSantis Says Ukraine War Is Not ‘Vital’ To US Interests

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the war in Ukraine was not a “vital” national interest, characterizing Biden’s funding of Ukraine as a distraction from more pressing matters in a response to a questionnaire from Tucker Carlson posted Monday evening.

The governor called out the Biden administration for its financial backing of Ukraine, stating that the U.S. must stop providing assistance to the country as further involvement poses a “risk” that is “unacceptable,” Carlson reported on Twitter. DeSantis’ answer to the six-question survey sheds more light on his foreign policy stance as he eases his way toward a likely 2024 presidential run.

“While the U.S. has many vital national interests – 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 the Chinese Communist Party – becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,” DeSantis responded. “The Biden administration’s virtual “blank check” funding of this conflict for ‘as long as it takes,’ without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country’s most pressing challenges.”

We asked every potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate to answer six key questions on the war in Ukraine. As promised, their full responses are below. pic.twitter.com/tjcM4w54cR

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 14, 2023

Involvement in an “escalating” war is being prioritized over defending “our own homeland,” while Americans are suffering with a growing border crisis that is not being addressed, the governor noted. Ukraine’s security is seemingly more important to the Biden administration than the U.S.’ security.

“The Biden administration’s policies have driven Russia into a de facto alliance with China. Because China has not and will not abide by the embargo, Russia has increased its foreign revenues while China benefits from cheaper fuel. Coupled with his intentional depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and support for the Left’s Green New Deal, Biden has further empowered Russia’s energy-dominated economy and Putin’s war machine at Americans’ expense,” said DeSantis.

The governor noted that Americans have the right to know how billions of taxpayer dollars are used in aiding Ukraine.

Carlson, co-founder of the Daily Caller and honorary board member of the Daily Caller News Foundation, sent the six questions last week, and the candidates were given until Monday to respond.

“Is opposing Russia in Ukraine a vital strategic interest for America? What’s our objective in Ukraine? And how are we going to know when we’ve achieved it? What is the limit of money and weapons you’d be willing to send to Zelenskyy? Have U.S. sanctions been effective? And Does the United States face the threat of nuclear war with Russia?” Carlson asked.

In addition to the Florida governor, Carlson sent the questionnaire to declared and potential 2024 GOP presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Several candidates worried about a potential nuclear war resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling to abstain from involvement and negotiate a peace deal, including DeSantis, Trump, Ramaswamy, Noem and Abbott. Other candidates advocated for further involvement and aide to Ukraine and more sanctions against Russia, including Pence and Christie.

Abbott and Scott took less strong positions, stating that the Biden administration’s policies are not working. Haley, Pompeo, Bolton, Sununu and Hutchinson did not respond to Carlson’s request.