Pence slams Biden’s ‘glossy goals of democracy’ in Ukraine

Former Vice President Mike Pence pinned blame on President Biden for Republican qualms about aid to war-torn Ukraine.

“I think the skepticism about support from Ukraine is more a reflection of a lack of confidence in Joe Biden as commander in chief than it is any other issue,” Pence told “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Pence has been an ardent backer of Ukraine even as a growing chorus within his party have publicly questioned the price tag, which has broached tens of billions of dollars.

A handful of House Republicans and even some of his peers in the 2024 arena such as millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have suggested helping Ukraine is not a pressing national security interest.

Pence disagrees.

“Ronald Reagan in 1985 coined what came to be known as the Reagan Doctrine, and that was if you’re willing to fight the communists in your country, we’ll give you the tools to fight them there so we don’t have to fight them here,” Pence added.

“It is in our national interest to see the Russian military repelled from Ukraine,” Pence stressed. “Joe Biden talks about glossy goals of democracy. No. Look, if Russia overwhelms Ukraine. I predict it would not be too long before the Russian army crosses the border, where our men and women in uniform would have to go and fight by crossing into a NATO ally.”

Pence further knocked Biden for slow-waking aid. Thus far, Congress has approved funding for over $100 billion in both military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Estimates on the exact cost vary and not all of that has been sent yet.

Last week, Biden approved a $325 million package amid Russia’s spring counteroffensive.

To Pence, Biden’s aid has been insufficient.

“He promised 33 Abrams tanks in January, which still aren’t there yet. And they’re continuing to drag their feet on aircraft,” Pence said.

“Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd noted that a bevy of House Republicans have grumbled over the sprawling aid delivered to Ukraine and called for increased oversight.

“Joe Biden has done such a terrible job explaining the importance of repelling the Russian invasion,” Pence countered.

Pence further contended that the ramifications from Ukraine will reverberate in the Asia Pacific region too.

“I also believe that by giving Ukraine the ability to repel the Russian invasion, we will send a definite message to China that the wider world will not tolerate them using force to redraw international lines in Taiwan,” Pence added.