Republican & Democrats on The Hill Buck President’s anti-Ukraine Policies

A growing number of senators and congressmen of both sides of the aisle are bucking President Trump’s anti-Ukraine policies by introducing their own pro-Ukrainian, anti-Russian resolutions.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-SC) is one of nine in a group of bipartisan senators — three Republicans, five Democrats and one independent — also trying to be heard. Their message to Trump is simple: Don’t trust Putin, according to a statement released today by his office.

As families across the United States gathered for the holidays, Tillis and his eight colleagues focused on a four-year-old child in Ukraine who was killed in a Russian drone strike with six other people.

Putin escalated his war against Ukraine last week with a barrage of drone strikes and long-range missiles, causing those deaths, at least 39 injuries, widespread power outages and destruction across the region.

Zelenskyy had agreed to a Christmas ceasefire.

Putin refused.

“Today’s decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted,” the senators wrote to Trump.

The letter and the attack came after Trump administration officials drafted a 20-point peace plan between Russia and Ukraine and are helping the two countries negotiate the terms.

New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, initiated the letter Tillis signed. Describing Putin as a “ruthless murderer” echoes words Tillis has long used since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Shaheen and Tillis both created and chair the Senate’s NATO Observer Group. The bipartisan group, focused on strengthening Congress’ work with NATO, initially began in 1997 but disbanded in 2007, before Shaheen and Tillis reestablished the group in 2018.

Republican Sens. John Barrasso, of Wyoming, and Jerry Moran, of Kansas also signed. Foreign Relations committee Chairman James Risch, a Republican from Idaho, did not, nor did most of the other Republicans on the committee. To do so would break from Trump, who at times has been supportive of Putin and critical of Zelenskyy.

Democrat Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada; Chris Coons of Delaware; Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland; and Sen. Angus King, an independent of Maine, also signed the letter that condemned Russia’s “killing of civilians as Christians around the world celebrated the Christmas holiday.”

“It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity’s holiest days,” the senators wrote to Trump. “Even for countries at war, there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including notably during World War I.”

On December 12, Senator Tillis released a statement praising the European Union’s decisive support for Ukraine:

“Today’s decision by European leaders to provide a €90 billion interest-free loan to Ukraine, backed by the strategic use of revenues from immobilized Russian state assets, sends an unmistakable message and demonstrate the kind of strategic clarity and resolve necessary to confront ongoing Russian aggression.

“Vladimir Putin is a thug and a war criminal. It is only fitting that Russia be held financially responsible for the death and destruction he unleashed. This decision to keep Russian assets frozen until Ukraine is fully compensated is not just about economics; it is about accountability. This is a policy reflects the kind of transatlantic leadership we need at a time when some are still looking for ‘off-ramps’ instead of results.

“Predictably, Putin has reacted to this news with his usual brand of propaganda, calling these actions ‘robbery.’ Coming from a man who invades sovereign neighbors, targets innocent civilians, and steals children, these claims are hollow. More importantly, his rhetoric serves as a reminder that he views any hint of Western hesitation as an invitation to go further.

“The lesson here is simple: appeasement never works. Putin only understands strength. Europe understands that, and America must, too. The world is watching—our allies are looking for resolve, and our adversaries are looking for weakness. We must continue to lead with the strength and clarity that this challenge demands.”