Turner’s Urgent Appeal
On Sunday, Representative Mike Turner condemned the recent Russian attacks on Ukraine and urged the United States to sustain its support for Kyiv, just hours before President Trump was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Ohio Republican highlighted that Moscow’s missile and drone strikes on Kyiv over the weekend exemplified the ongoing horrors of the Eastern European conflict. He emphasized that the Trump administration must back Ukraine in its defense efforts.
“The images of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin remind us that this is a war of aggression, as he relentlessly bombards civilian homes in Kyiv,” Turner stated during an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl. “We cannot be supportive of this; America must choose a side. You can’t prioritize America while being pro-Russia.”
The remarks followed one of Russia’s most severe bombardments of Kyiv in months, which involved over 500 drones and 40 high-powered Kinzhal missiles. Authorities reported at least one fatality and 22 injuries from these strikes.
The attacks targeted critical energy infrastructure in Kyiv, causing significant damage to the TPP-5 and Bila Tserkva power plants. As a result, more than 320,000 homes were left without electricity on Saturday.
The recent violence could overshadow Zelenskyy’s discussions with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where they are expected to address the current state of peace negotiations. Zelenskyy remarked that these latest assaults are a response from Russia against peace efforts.
Turner reiterated Zelenskyy’s sentiments, emphasizing the challenges facing both leaders in their quest to negotiate an end to hostilities. “They stand for democracy and liberty while Russia embodies authoritarianism and aggression,” he noted. “Trump aims for peace but faces immense difficulty in reconciling these opposing forces.”
