Former President Donald Trump's call for a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war and negotiations toward a truce has differed from the stance of some of his supporters and many Republicans.
Most GOP members have strongly supported Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his country's unprovoked attack in February.
Trump has criticized the Biden administration's handling of the conflict.
"With potentially hundreds of thousands of people dying, we must demand the immediate negotiation of the peaceful end to the war in Ukraine, or we will end up in World War III and there will be nothing left of our planet all because stupid people didn't have a clue," Trump told supporters Saturday at a rally in Arizona.
"They really don't understand … what they're dealing with. The power of nuclear. They have no idea what they're doing."
The Hill reported that one GOP strategist said Trump's views won't be a major factor in the midterms, when domestic issues will dominate. However, if Republicans retake majorities in both chambers of Congress – they are favored to win the House, with the Senate widely considered to be a toss-up – Trump's Ukraine rhetoric could put pressure on lawmakers to adopt some of his ideas.
For now, some prominent Republicans have focused on recent Biden missteps and reinforcing the need to support Ukraine.
"The destruction today in Kyiv is horrific — allies and partners must get Ukraine the missile defenses and long-range weapons it has asked for," GOP members of the House Armed Services Committee tweeted Monday. "Arbitrary red lines by the Biden admin that hinder lethal aid shipments will only prolong this conflict."
Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine has ratcheted up in recent days as an explosion blew up a key bridge in Crimea, and Putin responded by firing cruise missiles at cities across Ukraine.
Although the Biden administration has insisted it will not push for negotiations that Ukraine does not support, Trump even has suggested that he could be involved in talks between the sides.
Trump continues to remind people that Putin did not invade Ukraine while he was in office.
"You would never in a million years — they wouldn't be there. So sad," Trump said last week at an event in Miami. "When I see all these people being killed, it's got to stop. They've got to negotiate a deal."
Trump last month urged world leaders not to escalate the situation after leaks appeared in the Nord Stream pipelines, which carry natural gas from Russia to parts of Europe.
"Be strategic, be smart (brilliant!), get a negotiated deal done NOW," Trump posted Sept. 28 on Truth Social. "Both sides need and want it. The entire World is at stake. I will head up group???"
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