DeSantis Downplays Ukraine War As ‘Territorial Dispute’ In Tucker Carlson Questionnaire

Responding to a questionnaire created by Fox host Tucker Carlson, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called President Joe Biden‘s support for Ukraine “far from one of our country’s most pressing challenges.”

“While the U.S. has many vital national interests – securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party – becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,” the presumptive Republican presidential hopeful wrote to Carlson.

“Without question, peace should be the objective,” he continued. “We cannot prioritize intervention in an escalating foreign war over the defense of our own homeland, especially as tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year from narcotics smuggled across our open border and our weapons arsenals critical for our own security are rapidly being depleted.”

DeSantis’ policy stance against continued aid for Ukraine continues a theme of downplaying the Ukrainian-Russian war.

DeSantis’ position starkly contrasts with Biden’s, who has asserted that Russia’s war in Ukraine is a necessary battle to protect democratic institutions.

“When united, Americans of all political backgrounds decided that they would step up,” Biden said in a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while visiting Kyiv, Ukraine, in February. “You remind us that freedom is priceless; it’s worth fighting for as long as it takes.  And that’s how long we’re going to be with you, Mr. President: for as long as it takes.”