WASHINGTON — National Security Advisor Michael Waltz reinforced the White House’s finger-pointing at Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Thursday’s White House press briefing, opting not to condemn Russia for starting the almost three-year-long war in Ukraine.
“There has been ongoing fighting on both sides,” said Waltz, in response to a question about who was responsible for the Russian invasion.
This press briefing comes after U.S. and Russian officials, including Waltz, held negotiations in Saudi Arabia over ending the war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials not invited to the talks. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy criticized these talks being held without Ukraine’s input. Simultaneously, President Donald Trump falsely blamed Ukraine for the war Wednesday, stating Ukraine “should have never started it” and dubbed Zelenskyy a “dictator” after Zelenskyy said Trump was “living in a disinformation space.”
Waltz’s statements about Ukraine represented a dramatic shift in the U.S. foreign policy approach toward Russia, taking a much friendlier stance toward the Kremlin. During the briefing, Waltz said the U.S. had become a more dominant global figure, who can deter wars from happening and will go “toe to toe” with figures such as Putin. Yet, Waltz’s statements illustrated the administration’s contrary attitude about authoritarian figures, after Waltz ignored a question about whether or not the president considers Putin a dictator.
During the briefing, Waltz stood by the president’s statements, emphasizing Trump’s desire to end the war.
“This is a president of peace,” Waltz said. “Who here would argue against peace?”
He stated that the administration hoped to move past what had happened in the past and work towards stopping the fighting.
However, the demands toward Ukraine have gone beyond simply ending the war. Trump had pushed for Ukraine to give the U.S. $500 billion in minerals in return for a continuation of U.S. support.
Waltz said Zelenskyy, who rejected the deal, would need to come back to the table. He characterized the offer as an “opportunity” for Ukraine and a way to have the U.S. invested in their long-term prosperity.
Waltz also went on the offensive against Trump critics who expressed concern over these negotiations without European or Ukrainian involvement, stating European allies had been consulted and referencing communication between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Waltz further attacked critics, pushing that those who had called for a ceasefire in Gaza had been hypocritical.
“So many people in Washington were demanding, pounding the table for a ceasefire in Gaza are suddenly aghast that the president would demand one … when it comes to Ukraine,” Waltz said.
