Marine Veteran Rep. Seth Moulton(D-MA): `Trump Is Selling Us Out to the Russians'

Democrat Congressman and Marine Seth Moulton reacts strongly to Ukraine's exclusion from preliminary talks on a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and news that President Trump called President Zelenskiy a 'dictator' online. President Donald Trump issued his most direct threat yet to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, saying the Ukrainian president had “better move fast” to reach a deal with Russia “or he is not going to have a Country left.” Trump’s social media post denouncing Zelenskiy as “a modestly successful comedian” and “a dictator” marks an all-but-final rejection of Ukraine as a full partner in negotiations that Trump has initiated with Russia to end the war that began with President Vladimir Putin’s  full-scale invasion of his neighbor three years ago. The US president has abandoned years of American support for Ukraine, as he prepares to meet with Putin as soon as this month to negotiate a deal to end the war, cutting out Kyiv and its European allies. Zelenskiy accused Trump of falling victim to Russian “disinformation” and has vowed not to be bound by any peace deal made without Ukraine. That had been the US position under former President Joe Biden.  Zelenskiy’s comment drew a warning by Vice President JD Vance, who told the Daily Mail that “badmouthing” Trump “is an atrocious way to deal with this administration.” The open breach with the leader of what had been Zelenskiy’s most important ally raises deep questions about Ukraine’s ability to fight on. Senior officials from the US and Russia met for a first round of talks on ending the war in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Ukraine wasn’t invited, compounding fears that a deal to end the war will be reached without Kyiv’s involvement. Putin said Wednesday that he regarded the outcome of the meeting in Riyadh positively. “We haven’t seen each other for a long time,” Putin told reporters. He reiterated that he was ready to meet with “Donald,” but that further preparation was needed before a summit could take place. Trump said Tuesday evening that he and Putin would probably meet before the end of the month. Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor, said Wednesday that the Trump-Zelenskiy relationship “clearly is going in the wrong direction.” But he told Fox News that Trump is engaging in “shuttle diplomacy,” contacting both Putin and Zelenskiy in an effort “to drive this to a diplomatic solution.”  As European allies express alarm over Trump’s approach, Waltz said that he talked with European counterparts by phone on Wednesday. “We’re engaging on all sides,” he said. -------- Get more on the Balance of Power Podcast On Apple: http://bit.ly/3OO8eLC On Spotify: http://bit.ly/3ILEgnW Anywhere: http://bit.ly/3qmfxQH Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio Listen on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business app: Apple CarPlay: https://apple.co/486mghI Android Auto: https://bit.ly/49benZy Visit our YouTube channels: Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/bloombergpodcasts Bloomberg Television: https://www.youtube.com/@markets Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake