Trump Wants to Hand Ukraine Over to Putin, but Congress Is Preparing a Counterattack: What Are the Republicans Planning?

Donald Trump is trying to reach an agreement with the Kremlin, but his concessions to Russia are increasingly irritating even some Republicans. While the White House is pressuring Kyiv over military aid and trying to push for a peace agreement, Congress is looking for ways to limit the president’s influence on decisions regarding Ukraine.

Boris Pinkus, a public figure and president of the Ronald Reagan Republican Club, explained in an exclusive interview with 24 Channel why the remarks by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff about “humanism” sparked outrage, when Republicans can openly oppose the president, and how Congress is trying to block concessions to the Kremlin. He also explained why Trump’s plans for a peace agreement may clash with China’s interests.

"Humanist" Putin and the Trump team’s diplomatic failure

The visit by Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to St. Petersburg and his statements about Vladimir Putin’s “humanism” sparked outrage even among American conservatives.

Appointing people without relevant experience – who are driven solely by business interests – to such sensitive diplomatic missions is a serious shortcoming in the work of the U.S. executive branch. To call a dictator, who has hundreds of thousands of lives on his conscience, a humanist is humiliating for America, Pinkus emphasized.

Moreover, Trump’s attempts to portray the release of an American hostage as a diplomatic victory are manipulative, since Russia has for years employed KGB tactics of seizing foreigners precisely for the purpose of subsequent political bargaining.

The current administration’s foreign policy is collapsing, and not just in Europe. In recent years, the U.S. has lost ground in the Middle East, where Washington cannot even effectively counter the Houthi groups attacking American allies.

Meanwhile, Iran has not only rebuilt its military-industrial complex but is also ramping up production of ballistic missiles and drones, which continue to strike Ukrainian cities. All of this points to a lack of strategic vision and a willingness to make unjustified concessions to dictatorial regimes.

Full interview with Boris Pinkus: watch the video

Why are Republicans silent now but will act later?

Despite their public loyalty to Trump, serious dissatisfaction with his foreign policy is brewing within the Republican Party. It is telling that at the party convention in Texas, 52 Republicans refused to attend, distancing themselves from their leader.

Many candidates are removing Trump’s name and portraits from their campaign materials, as they realize that 66% of Americans support unwavering aid to Ukraine until its victory.

The main reason for the current silence among members of Congress is the approaching election. In the U.S., the outcome of political races is often decided by independent voters (about 34 million people).

If Republicans were to openly declare a split within the party and speak out against their president right now, independent voters might turn away from them due to the internal chaos. However, the situation will change dramatically after November 9, when Congress returns to work. Lawmakers will no longer have anything to lose, and they will be able to openly resist attempts to compromise Ukraine’s interests, the politician said.

A Legislative Safeguard Against Capitulation and Weapons Blackmail

Preparations are already underway in Congress to block any potential concessions to Russia. In particular, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has introduced a new bill, known as the "Reagan Act," which is based on the concept of “peace through strength.” The bill has already gathered more than 200 signatures out of the 218 required in the House of Representatives.

In addition, Congress has the tools to put pressure on the administration through sanctions policy. The draconian sanctions against Russia, which Trump is currently holding back, could be refined and implemented by passing an additional law with a clearly specified implementation date. This would prevent the White House from manipulating the timing of their implementation and make it impossible to single-handedly abandon Ukraine.

For now, however, Trump’s team is using military aid as leverage against Kyiv. The delay in the delivery of Patriot systems under the PDA program (for which $6.7 billion has been allocated) and the manipulation of Starlink are deliberate actions by the White House to force the Ukrainian government to make territorial concessions.

The Illusion of a Deal in Miami and the China Factor

Reports that Donald Trump plans to organize the signing of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia at the G20 summit in Miami appear to be an attempt to satisfy his own ego rather than to resolve the conflict.

Any agreements that involve territorial concessions or the abandonment of security guarantees for Ukraine are unacceptable. Kyiv has clearly outlined its conditions: a potential freeze along the front lines is possible only if the West provides effective security guarantees to prevent further aggression.

China plays a distinct role in this geopolitical game. Xi Jinping has no interest in a quick end to the war, as it is in his interest to watch Russia become exhausted and turn into a Chinese vassal.

At the same time, Beijing is exploiting the weakness of the Trump administration to strengthen its own position. The Chinese leader seeks to see the collapse of U.S. foreign policy so that he can later dictate his own economic terms. Therefore, hopes that Washington, Beijing, and Moscow will be able to decide Ukraine’s fate without its participation are completely unfounded.