During a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) made some remarks that left many people wondering if he was making excuses for Russian President Vladimir Putin and even spreading “Putin propaganda” as he questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Paul was asking about the current situation in Ukraine and U.S. involvement in the ongoing military conflict between the Ukrainians and Russia, which began in February when Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine. He noted that he is opposed to Ukraine joining NATO because it would result in American soldiers “fighting in Ukraine,” which he added he opposed.
Secretary Blinken told the senator:
“If you look at the countries that Russia has attacked over the last years: Georgia…Moldova, and then repeatedly in Ukraine, these are countries that were not part of NATO. It has not attacked NATO countries for probably very good reasons.”
But it was what Paul said next that raised eyebrows:
“You could also argue that the countries they’ve attacked were part of Russia.”
Paul then attempted to correct his glaring mistake:
“Or were part of the Soviet Union.”
Blinken pushed back:
“I firmly disagree with that proposition. It is the fundamental right of these countries to decide their own future.”
BLINKEN: If you look at the countries Russia attacked, these were countries that were not part of NATO
RAND PAUL: You could also argue the countries they’ve attacked were part of Russia
BLINKEN: I firmly disagree. It’s the right of these countries to decide their future pic.twitter.com/4ZeZOVrK0i
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 26, 2022
So if the Russians have designs on another country, the United States is supposed to just sit back and let it happen? Since when has that been the foreign policy of this country? If we let Putin take as many countries as he wants, pretty soon Greater Russia will stretch across most of Europe and Asia, which is likely Putin’s master plan.
It didn’t take long before Paul was being dragged on Twitter for his remarks:
Coming soon to Russian State media, Comrade Senator Paul.
That Aug 2018 trip to Moscow to give Putin a letter from Trump and Deripaska’s investments in KY paid off well.
Funny how he’s also led the charge to scale back USIC authorities which could be used against Russia. https://t.co/5pD0YA72Mr
— Peter Strzok (@petestrzok) April 26, 2022
Rand Paul is repeating Kremlin talking points. #PartyOfPutin https://t.co/AUYLiEPyg1
— VoteVets (@votevets) April 26, 2022
Wait, is Rand Paul’s argument that since these countries used to be part of Russia, then they are allowed to kill them indiscriminately because, well, they own them?
If so, Britain would like a word.
— Lon Elliott (@LonElliott) April 26, 2022
#RedRand @RandPaul is a Russian Asset. John McCain said it first. He was correct. https://t.co/XxhJe3AIV5
— Dawn Westlake (@dawn_westlake) April 26, 2022
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