Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene floated the idea that the U.S. should look at reaching a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Congress continues to debate over additional funding for Ukraine.
Republican lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have voted to block sending additional aid to Ukraine in recent weeks, instead calling on their Democratic counterparts to reach a deal that would also boost funding for domestic immigration issues. Greene, a Republican from Georgia, has repeatedly been critical of sending aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Amid the tension, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Washington this week to meet with President Joe Biden and members of Congress in an effort to secure additional funding before lawmakers head for recess for the year on Friday. According to Reuters, meetings are scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
"With Zelenskyy in town and Ukraine money running dry, why doesn't anyone in Washington talk about a peace treaty with Russia??" Greene wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Monday afternoon. "A deal with Putin promising he will not continue any further invasions."
"Answer: Washington wants war, not peace," she continued. "Isn't that awful?! I'm still a NO."
Zelensky has repeatedly said that Ukraine is not open to peace talks with Russia until all occupied territory is returned to Kyiv's control. Putin's troops currently occupy large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian officials have said that Moscow is open to discussing a "post-conflict settlement" on the war on the condition that Western leaders like the U.S. stop seeking a "strategic defeat of Russia." The Kremlin has also rejected proposals from Ukraine that involves returning occupied land to Kyiv's control.
Newsweek reached out to the White House Press Office for comment.
President Joe Biden has been steadfast on the U.S.'s support for Ukraine, and has warned Republican lawmakers that blocking aid for Kyiv is dangerous and a "gift" for Putin.
"If we don't support Ukraine, what is the rest of the world going to do?" Biden said during a speech from the White House last week.
The Pentagon announced additional military aid for Kyiv last week, however, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the package could be "one of the last" if a deal cannot be reached in Congress.
Biden has asked lawmakers for a $110 billion in military assistance to be split between Ukraine, Israel and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's war with Hamas. He also said last week that he would be willing to "make significant compromises" regarding U.S.-southern border policies if that is what it takes to get a deal past Republicans, according to AP's report.
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