CNN
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Former Vice President Mike Pence warned Thursday that if Russian President Vladimir Putin “overwhelms” Ukraine, he could attack NATO countries and force the United States to get directly involved.
“In my mind, having met Vladimir Putin, if President Putin is allowed to take control of Ukraine, it will not be long before our men and women in uniform cross the borders of NATO countries where they are required to fight. “I had no doubt in my mind that it would happen,” he said. he told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an interview on “The Lead.”
Pence’s comments come as the House battles over whether to move forward with a foreign aid package that would provide money to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is under heavy pressure from Republican hardliners, said he would stick to his plan to consider a series of foreign aid bills.
Mr. Pence praised Mr. Johnson for moving forward with the foreign aid bill, despite the possibility that members of the right wing of his own party might try to oust him over the bill.
“And I think what the American people are witnessing here is nothing short of moral courage. Speaker Mike Johnson is determined to do what he believes is right and leave the consequences to the American people at this point. Determined. And I commend him for that,” Pence said.
Addressing a session at the Brussels Forum in Belgium on Thursday, Pence said that if Putin succeeds in invading Ukraine, “it won’t be long until we cross the border, and our men and women will have to fight under Article V.” “It will not happen,” he warned.
Article 5 is the principle that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all NATO members.
Pence also warned that a Russian victory would “start a domino effect that would embolden authoritarian regimes” and suggested China could move toward an invasion of Taiwan.
In an interview with Tapper, the former vice president argued that “this is a time of real challenge for the United States, and we need to seize this moment,” adding that the U.S. asked Congress to approve aid. time.
“Now is the time for the United States of America to stand shoulder to shoulder. We need to recognize that we are the leaders of the free world. And we need to step into this moment and send a deafening message: – Russia and Vladimir Putin, not just Jake – we need to renew our support for our valued ally Israel, support Taiwan, and send a very clear message to the mullahs in Tehran. And he told President Xi in Beijing that America would stand firm for freedom.
As a presidential candidate, Pence visited Ukraine last year and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He remained steadfast in his support for Ukraine even as other Republican candidates, including his former boss Donald Trump, questioned the amount of U.S. aid. President Trump, now the presumptive Republican nominee, also said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever it wants” with NATO countries that don’t meet defense spending guidelines. Pence withdrew from the 2024 race in October.
