Cotton: ‘I’ve Noticed that Vladimir Putin Only Attacks Ukraine When Democrats Are President’

TAPPER: “My first guest could be theoretically joining Donald Trump on the Republican ticket. Joining us now, potential Trump vice presidential pick Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, also a U.S. veteran. Thank you so much for being here, Senator. Really appreciate it. Let’s start with Ukraine, which I know is an issue you care about in terms of military aid. Last night, at a rally in Michigan, the former president, Mr. Trump, went after Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for constantly seeking U.S. aid, saying, ‘It never ends. It never ends.’ This is a criticism that comes after he reportedly told House Republicans when he was on the Hill the other day that the money the U.S. is sending to Ukraine isn’t worth it, and asked, ‘If Ukraine wins, what will be the benefit?’ Now, you have been a strong supporter of military aid to Ukraine to fend off Putin’s war. What is your answer to that question? What will be the benefit if Ukraine wins?”
COTTON: “Well, Jake, thanks for having me on, and happy Father’s Day to you.”
TAPPER: “To you as well, sir.”
COTTON: “And happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. I think it’s important to look at the context of what’s happened in Ukraine over the last 10 years. I have noticed that Vladimir Putin only invades Ukraine when Democrats are president. It happened under Barack Obama. It happened under Joe Biden. It didn’t happen with Donald Trump. In fact, the weapons that Ukraine used in the early days of this war to fend off the Russian invasion are the weapons that Donald Trump sent, that Barack Obama and Joe Biden had refused to send. One reason why Joe Biden — or why Vladimir Putin thought he could get away with going for the jugular in Ukraine is because of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which projected weakness and indecision. It was just a few weeks later that he began to mass troops on Ukraine’s border. President Trump has said that he believes and supports Ukraine’s survival and strength. But he also thinks that Europe should do more and, in fact, should care more, because it is in their backyard, ot is on their borders. I think that too. Europe should be doing more of this. But what we all want is a return to the peace and stability that we had when President Trump was president, not the war and chaos we have seen over the last four years.”
TAPPER: “Does it bother you at all when President Trump says things like, if Ukraine wins, what will be the benefit, which contradicts the policy issues you just illustrated?”
COTTON: “Well, President Trump, again, presided for four years over the peace and stability. I understand that European leaders and Democrats here in America didn’t care for some of the language or rhetoric he used. I would say that was necessary to get tough on foreign leaders, who are our putative allies, who had been free-riding off of American military strength for 35 years. And what you saw is European leaders actually finally investing in their common defense. That’s something they will do again when President Trump is back in the White House.”