Several Republicans in Congress strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s White House for the way it handled the proposed peace plan for Ukraine, which they say favors Russia.
It is a radical shift for a party that has strongly embraced almost all of Trump’s initiatives, according to Reuters.
Supporters of Ukraine are worried that the 28-point plan elaborated by the US to end the war in Ukraine, presented for the first time last week, shows that the Trump administration may be willing to press Kiev to sign a peace agreement strongly favorable to Moscow.
"This so-called 'peace plan' has real issues, and I am very skeptical that it will lead to peace," said Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
These fears escalated when Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday that Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, in a phone call on October 14 with Russian President Vladimir Putin's political advisor, Yuri Ushakov, said they should collaborate on a ceasefire plan and that Putin should discuss this with Trump.
Witkoff "cannot be trusted"
"For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want Ukraine to remain a sovereign and democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a paid Russian agent do less than him? Should he be fired?" said Republican Representative Don Bacon on X.
While Trump's party largely stands behind him, the criticisms from Republican legislators are notable, given the president's recent failures, including the Democrats' electoral victories this month and Congress's support for the release of the Department of Justice files regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an outcome Trump has fought for months.
Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick called for a change in approach, describing the social media outcry as "a major problem. And one of the many reasons why these ridiculous shows and secret meetings need to stop."
Senator Mitch McConnell, the former Republican Senate leader, suggested that Trump may need to find new advisors. "Rewarding the Russian slaughter would be disastrous for America's interests," he said in a statement.
Trump, Much More Vulnerable
Trump's inner circle members reacted negatively to lawmakers.
Vice President JD Vance, a former Republican senator who criticized aid to Ukraine, accused McConnell of launching a "ridiculous attack" on the plan to end the war.
President's son, Donald Trump Jr., stated on social media that McConnell is "getting back at my father." But attacks from members of Trump's own party, along with recent political headwinds, could signal a bigger problem for the administration, analysts said.
"All of these suggest that he is much more politically vulnerable than he has appeared in the last nine, ten months," said Scott Anderson, a governance studies researcher at the Brookings Institution.
Moreover, as opinion polls show that the majority of Americans want to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian invaders, Republicans are likely heading into the 2026 midterm elections when control of Congress will be at stake, and many Republican candidates in tight races will need to attract independent voters' support.