McConnell Condemns U.S.-Brokered Deal on Ukraine as “Kidding Themselves”

Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell criticized an emerging U.S.-brokered deal to end the war in Ukraine, asserting that those who believe pressing the victim and appeasing the aggressor will bring peace are “kidding themselves.” The Kentucky senator emphasized that “the price and stability of peace matters,” noting that allies and adversaries alike are watching whether America will hold firm against aggression or reward it.

McConnell questioned the difficult concessions being pressed on Russia, asking how limiting Ukraine’s defenses against future aggression would increase the likelihood of enduring peace. He highlighted the deal’s provisions, which would see Russia receive recognition for its control of Donetsk and Luhansk regions — as well as Crimea, annexed in 2014 — along with areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia that it now controls. Under the agreement, Ukraine would have to reduce its army size, NATO troops would be prohibited from deploying to Ukraine, and Kyiv would not be allowed to expand its alliance with NATO.

McConnell also condemned the emerging deal in a statement, stating that “Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool.” He urged administration officials to prioritize securing real peace over appeasing Putin, asserting that “rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s interests.” The senator stressed that “our credibility is on the line” and called for firm action against aggression.

The article focuses on McConnell’s critique of the deal, with no mention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy or his government. It highlights the senator’s condemnation of the Ukrainian military leadership’s decisions to reduce their army size, as well as the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and global stability.