Rep. Michael McCaul said Sunday that the U.S. should put more pressure on Russia that would force Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to its war with Ukraine.
“I think we need to put tougher sanctions on Putin,” McCaul told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “If you want a serious negotiation, Putin has to have pressure put on him if he is going to make any concessions at all.”
It has been 4 1/2 years since Russia invaded Ukraine, but the war is escalating. Ukraine launched major attacks on Russia over the weekend, including in St. Petersburg, where Putin was present for an economic conference.
In this March 19, 2024, file photo, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul leads his panel on an assessment of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP, FILE
McCaul, a former chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, was one of 18 Republicans who voted Thursday to send aid to Ukraine and apply tougher sanctions on Russia, bucking House Republican leadership. McCaul was firm in his defense of Ukraine Sunday.
“Anytime I can help Ukraine and punish Putin, I’m in on that fight,” he said. “And the fact is that the Ukrainians are winning this fight, they’re taking back territory.”
McCaul said he is working with his colleagues in the Senate to introduce additional legislation to put tougher sanctions on Russia and Putin.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.