Pence urges Trump to impose sanctions on Putin after Alaska summit

Former Vice President Mike Pence mentioned on Sunday that President Donald Trump ought to get the “Hammer” on Russian President Vladimir Putin with further secondary sanctions.

After a gathering with Putin at a high in Alaska, Trump shifted from pleading for a direct cease-fire deal to a broader “peace settlement” between Ukraine and Russia.

In an look on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Pence described Trump’s fashion in coping with dictators such because the “Velvet Glove” strategy, however mentioned he thinks “the hammer ought to come, and it should come instantly.”

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zenskyy is anticipated to fulfill Trump on Monday within the Oval Workplace, accompanied by the UK and European leaders. Pence mentioned that Trump ought to “choose up the telephone on the identical time and” Senate majority chief John Thune, Rs.d. ‘Should ask, to right away go the secondary sanction account that’s nearly supported by everybody within the Senate of america.

Putin appears to be visibly irritated when reporters hinder him and Trump with questions

Former Vice President Mike Pence attends the inauguration of Donald J. Trump within the American Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC (Julia Demaree Nikhinson – Pool/Getty pictures)

“The mix of involvement, but in addition makes it clear to make it clear that we’re prepared to take actions that might actually break his financial system, even whereas we double our dedication to Ukraine’s security,” Pence mentioned.

“The very last thing we need to see is that Putin is the rationale for this final to proceed this warfare till De Winter strikes and the combating season in that a part of the world passes by,” he later added. “We can’t permit Vladimir to stand up throughout the warfare on this yr and this season. We actually should do each issues, and that’s: the sanctions have to be on the president’s workplace, obtainable for his signature whereas negotiations begin. That’s an important approach wherein we guarantee that there’s actual progress within the course of the peace settlement.”

Pence, who served as Vice President of Trump throughout his first time period, repeated Putin Georgia underneath President George W. Bush, attacked Crimea underneath President Barack Obama, and Ukraine invaded “Die disastrous withdrawal” from Afghanistan underneath President Joe Biden.

“Putin didn’t make it a secret for the truth that he needs to revive the outdated Soviet ambiance of affect, what we referred to as the malignant empire in Japanese Europe,” Pence instructed CNN’s Jake Tapper. “I feel Putin solely understands energy, so whereas the president and his diplomatic workforce are involved with Putin, and there appears to be curiosity, in my view, Putin is not going to cease till he has stopped.”

Pence mentioned that Trump needs to be praised for the pursuit of peace in Ukraine, “and notes that the president has already concluded peace agreements in Africa, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“I feel he deserves credit score as a pacesetter of the free world for not giving up Ukraine,” mentioned Pence, claiming “There are a lot of voices in and across the administration that Ukraine would have indifferent months in the past.”

President Donald Trump and the Russian Vladimir Putin arrive for a joint press convention on a joint base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, August 15, 2025. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong)

Democrats doubt that Trump will safe the Ukraine-Stakt-Het-Fires in Alaska Summit with Putin

Pence mentioned he needed to reward the president for “attempting to make progress,” however mentioned he would have preferred to have seen a cessation. But he mentioned that “no deal is best than a nasty deal.”

Based mostly on the particular envoy Steve Witkoff of the US, Pence mentioned that it appeared “a minimum of a climb within the assembly of Putin and Trump to america that gives safety ensures, and clearly the president has not forfeited the US nationwide safety or with the protection of our allies in Japanese Europe in the course of this warfare.”

Witkoff instructed CNN that the Trump authorities “is planning to attempt to hammer a peace settlement that completely ends the combating -very, in a short time, quicker -the -furen.” He additionally mentioned that Trump couldn’t agree with “any type of land change” on behalf of the Ukrainians. On the high, Putin insisted on the Ukrainians to withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk in change for Russian troops that freeze the fronts in different areas.

“On the finish of the day you will need to keep in mind that the dangerous man right here is Putin. Putin launched a non -provoked brutal invasion greater than three years in the past,” Pence mentioned. “Now greater than ever, America and our allies should be robust with Ukraine and create the circumstances for a simply and lasting peace.”

President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin whereas on 15 August 2025 he arrives in Anchorage, Alaska, on a joint base Elmendorf-Richardson. (Andrew Harnik/Getty pictures)

Minutes earlier than Pence spoke with CNN on Sunday morning, Trump positioned Social on the Fact, teasing: “Nice progress on Russia. Keep knowledgeable!”

Trump additionally criticized the media report on his assembly with Putin.

“It’s unimaginable how faux information the reality violently distorts with regards to me,” Trump wrote on social media earlier on Sunday. “There may be nothing that I can say or do it could trigger them to put in writing or report actually about me. I had a fantastic assembly in Alaska concerning the silly warfare of Biden, a warfare that ought to by no means have occurred !!!”

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“If I obtained Russia to surrender Moscow as a part of the deal, it could say faux information and their accomplice, the novel left -wing Democrats, that I made a horrible mistake and a really dangerous deal,” Trump added. “That is why they’re faux information! In addition they have to speak concerning the 6 wars, and so forth., I simply stopped !!! MAGA.”