WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement regarding comments made by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the war in Ukraine.

“The only way to a just peace in Ukraine is a strong Ukraine. Peace through strength doesn’t work without strength. That is why Secretary Hegseth and President Trump need to stop focusing on what Ukraine has to give up to appease a murderous dictator like Vladimir Putin and instead talk about maintaining support for Ukraine.

“Putin will not stop if he thinks that we will cut off Ukraine or that the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine will fracture. It is true that we need peace negotiations, but those negotiations will not be successful if we allow Ukraine to lose before they get to the negotiating table with Russia. In the event a truce is negotiated, Ukraine must still be able to defend itself to ensure Putin will not attack again.”

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