Former VP calls for swift sanctions while praising Trump’s diplomatic push. ( Image Credits: Fox News)
Former Vice President Mike Pence urged President Donald Trump on Sunday to apply the “hammer” to Russian President Vladimir Putin with additional secondary sanctions as part of the ongoing peace negotiations over Ukraine.
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Pence acknowledged Trump’s “velvet glove” approach with dictators but emphasized the need for strong measures to pressure Moscow. “The hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately,” he said.
Pence stressed that sanctions and diplomacy must go hand in hand, ensuring Russia cannot exploit delays to prolong the conflict.
The remarks follow Trump’s recent meeting with Putin in Alaska, where the U.S. President shifted from advocating a ceasefire to pursuing a broader peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Pence noted that Trump “should be commended for pursuing peace in Ukraine” while highlighting prior successful agreements in Africa, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump on Monday at the White House, joined by leaders from the U.K. and Europe, as the administration works toward concrete security guarantees for Kyiv.
Pence called on Trump to contact Senate Majority Leader John Thune to push the secondary sanctions bill, which he said enjoys broad bipartisan support. “The combination of engagement, but also making it clear to Putin that we are prepared to take actions that would literally break his economy even while we redouble our commitment to the security of Ukraine,” Pence said.
He warned that Russia could otherwise use the delay to extend the conflict through the winter months. “We can’t allow Vladimir to run out the clock on the war in this year and this season,” Pence said.
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Pence recounted Putin’s past aggression, including attacks on Georgia, Crimea, and Ukraine, and criticized Biden’s handling of global conflicts. “Putin only understands strength,” Pence stated. He stressed that America and its allies must stand firmly with Ukraine to create conditions for a just and lasting peace.
Pence also clarified that, based on U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff’s briefing, Trump’s meeting with Putin signaled progress toward U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, without conceding territory or compromising American national security.
As Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump and European leaders in Washington, the focus remains on combining diplomacy with credible deterrence. Pence emphasized that sanctions should be ready for Trump’s signature while negotiations continue, aiming to pressure Putin toward a peace deal that ends the conflict permanently.
