Sen. Lindsey Graham said President Trump won’t stand for a bad deal from Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet in Alaska next week.
Mr. Graham, South Carolina Republican, compared the meeting to President Ronald Reagan’s summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in October 1986 to discuss arms control.
“To those who criticize President Trump for being willing to meet with Putin to end the bloodbath in Ukraine — remember Reagan met with Gorbachev to try to end the Cold War,” the senator posted Friday on X.
“I’m confident President Trump will walk away — like Reagan — if Putin insists on a bad deal,” he wrote. “Good luck, Mr. President, in your efforts to end this brutal war. The world should be pulling for you. I know I am.”
Mr. Trump announced Friday that he will meet with Mr. Putin in Alaska next Friday to discuss ending the Ukraine-Russia war.
It comes as the attacks on Ukraine continue in a war raging for over three years.
Mr. Trump threatened harsh penalties on Russia if it didn’t end the war, but the deadline was Friday with no sanctions.
India, however, has faced increased tariffs — for a combined rate of 50% — over its purchasing of Russian oil.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.”
India has pushed back, with its Ministry of External Affairs saying the country’s purchases of Russian oil “are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday he spoke with Mr. Putin and thanked him for sharing updates on the war.
“We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” Mr. Modi wrote on X. “I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.