Vivek Ramaswamy Wants To Give Vladimir Putin A “Deal” – Businessman and Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he would make a “deal” with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Ramaswamy, a prominent critic of the United States’ involvement so far, also questioned whether Ukraine is a democratic nation, arguing that Russian-speaking regions occupied by Russia since 2014 had not been represented in the Ukrainian parliament in nine years.
The Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in question contain strong Russian-backed separatist movements, identifying themselves as “Peoples’ Republics,” although recognition of these states is not internationally accepted.
Ramaswamy, a pro-Donald Trump Republican seeking to offer a “fresh face” for the GOP, is the youngest party candidate in history.
The Art Of The Deal
The Ohioan is one of the Republican Party’s strongest critics of U.S. aid to Ukraine, echoing the sentiment of a growing proportion of party voters. Both Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have pledged to end military and economic assistance immediately if elected. At the same time, Trump has said he will end the conflict “within 24 hours” of assuming the presidency.
In a somewhat hypocritical statement, the 38-year-old said he would not “give [Putin] anything” but “give him a deal.” He has to exit his military alliance with Xi Jinping (and) in turn we’d give a hard commitment that NATO will not admit Ukraine,” Ramasawamy told Piers Morgan on his “Uncensored” program.
Contradictory to international opinion, Ramaswamy stated the U.S. would “freeze the current lines of control,” arguing that the areas currently occupied by Moscow’s forces are Russian-speaking regions. Russia currently occupies 17.48% of Ukraine, according to War Mapper on X (formerly Twitter).
“What? You would literally give Putin what he has stolen?” asked a surprised Morgan. “You would give an evil dictator land he has stolen by killing people? You would give him the land?”
“Piers, I’m not going to give him anything, I’ll give him a deal,” replied Ramaswamy, while emphasizing his point that Ukraine is “not a paragon of democracy.”
Ramaswamy Among Republicans
Since announcing his intention to run in February, Ramaswamy has grown in support despite his lack of electoral history. A strong performance at the first Republican debate in August boosted his poll figures to around 11%, but he’s since dropped back down to circa 6%. The businessman is currently fourth in the polls, behind Trump, Gov. DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley.
A fond admirer of former president Trump, Ramaswamy has expressed interest in keeping the current frontrunner as an advisor if he wins the primary and has even promised to pardon him if he is criminally convicted in one of his four indictments. “Honest to God, I would love Trump as an advisor, as a mentor … to be able to go further,” he told Morgan.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
