Republican senators have joined Democrats in issuing a signal message to Donald Trump as he prepares to meet with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky, 47, traveled to Mar-a-Lago on Sunday to discuss a potential peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine with Trump, 79, who has previously tried to bully Ukraine into accepting a US-brokered deal in favor of Vladimir Putin.
After Putin, 73, struck Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles over Christmas, GOP senators Thom Tillis, Jerry Moran and John Barrasso, along with Democratic colleagues, offered to remind the 73-year-old Putin that he is a “ruthless killer.”
President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings have plummeted in recent months, has been accused of playing into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hands by being hostile toward Ukraine and other traditional allies. / Andrew Hornick / Getty Images
“Putin’s decision today to attack rather than fire is a stark reminder to all of us: Putin is a ruthless killer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted,” the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a statement.
The senators added, “President Zelensky agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin refused, yet he instructed soldiers to continue committing brutal crimes on one of Christianity’s holiest days.”
Senator Tillis, 65, of North Carolina, Senator Moran, 71, of Kansas, and Senator Barrasso, 73, of Wyoming, were one member, along with Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Jackie Rosen, Chris Coons, Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Angus Kings.
The message did not include more MAGA-friendly members of the committee, including its Republican chairman Jim Rich and Ted Cruz of Texas.
Three GOP senators joined Democrats in the release: Thom Tillis, 65, a retired senator from North Carolina, Jerry Moran, 71, a senator from Kansas, and John Barrasso, 73, a senator from Wyoming. / Bill Clark / Getty Images
Once firmly in control of congressional Republicans, Trump’s influence has weakened in recent months as his approval ratings have plummeted and the GOP has lost contests across the country.
The defeat suggests a path for Democrats to reclaim at least partial control of Congress in the 2026 midterms by flipping the House and Senate as well, leaving Trump to serve out the remainder of his second term as a lame-duck president.
Furthermore, three Republican senators are largely free of electoral pressure: Tillis is retiring in 2027, Moran is up for re-election in 2028, and Barrasso in 2030.
Donald Trump’s approval ratings have been slipping since he was re-entered office. / Gallup
Critics have long accused Trump of playing into Putin’s hands by acting hostile toward Ukraine and other traditional allies.
In recent months, he has launched a diplomatic push to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, but his proposed peace plan initially reflected many of Putin’s demands, blinding Zelensky and European allies.
The demands included limitations on Ukraine’s military and, crucially, the surrender of territory to Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that the 20-point plan under discussion is “about 90% ready.” But he warned, “Russia constantly looks for reasons not to agree.” / Artur Widak / Getty Images
Last month, Trump melted down over Ukraine on Truth Social, claiming that Zelensky showed “zero gratitude” in a message that echoed his tactics during their contentious Oval Office meeting in February. Zelensky thanked Trump again.
The Ukrainian leader announced Thursday that he had a “good conversation” with Trump’s special envoy Steve Wittkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
A view of the damage at the site of a Russian drone strike in Kiev on December 23, 2025.
He told reporters on Friday that he planned to discuss the “sensitive issue” of security guarantees for Ukraine as well as possible regional concessions with Trump on Sunday.
Zelesnyky said the 20-point plan under discussion was “about 90% ready,” warning that “Russia is constantly looking for reasons not to agree.”
