Sen. Lankford defends Zelenskyy amid GOP criticisms

In recent discussions, Republican Senator James Lankford defended Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid criticisms from some Trump administration officials regarding his leadership. Lankford emphasized that Zelenskyy is justified in his concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin's untrustworthiness, highlighting a confrontation in the Oval Office where Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of lacking gratitude for U.S. support. This meeting has sparked internal GOP divides, with some senators like Lindsey Graham calling for Zelenskyy to resign, while others, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Bernie Sanders, expressed their support for him and criticized the attacks against him. Lankford and Murkowski both stressed that turning away from Ukraine would be a mistake, reinforcing the importance of U.S. support for the country amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. The situation raises questions about the future of U.S. military aid to Ukraine following the Oval Office incident, as discussions on pausing such aid have emerged among officials. Overall, the discord among Republicans reflects broader tensions regarding U.S. foreign policy towards Ukraine and Russia.