On Sunday, during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Former Vice President Mike Pence expressed his perspective on President Donald Trump’s diplomatic approach, describing it as employing a “velvet glove” when dealing with authoritarian leaders, whereas a more forceful “hammer” approach is necessary.
Host Jake Tapper responded, “Last month, you mentioned that President Trump appeared to recognize, ‘Vladimir Putin has no interest in peace. Vladimir Putin seeks control over Ukraine.’ As you pointed out, no ceasefire was secured. Before the summit, President Trump emphasized that a ceasefire was essential, warning of severe consequences if it wasn’t achieved. However, post-summit, he has shifted away from insisting on an immediate ceasefire. Overnight, five Ukrainians lost their lives. He’s now suggesting, as Witkoff noted, that a broader peace agreement could be swiftly reached if Putin’s conditions, including Ukraine relinquishing control of the entire Donbas region to Russia, are accepted. How do you interpret this? There are supporters of Trump, observers who admire him, who believe he may have been outmaneuvered.”
Pence replied, “I worked closely with the president for four years, and I’m familiar with his approach to authoritarian leaders. He often uses a velvet glove. However, I believe a stronger, more immediate response is required. As the president prepares to host President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office tomorrow, alongside numerous European allies, he should also reach out to Majority Leader John Thune and urge the prompt passage of the secondary sanctions bill, which enjoys near-unanimous support in the United States Senate. Combining diplomatic engagement with a clear message to Putin—demonstrating readiness to implement measures that could significantly disrupt his economy—while reinforcing our commitment to Ukraine’s security and collaboration with European partners is essential.”
He continued, “Putin responds only to strength. While the president and his diplomatic team pursue this renewed engagement with Putin, which appears to show some promise, in my view, Putin will not relent until he is compelled to stop.”
