U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Fox News to discuss the status of peace talks between Israel and Gaza, as well as his thoughts on a potential ceasefire with Ukraine and Russia.
Watch the full interview HERE.
Daines on the strength of the Israeli military:
Well, I’m more optimistic now than I was in the past, and I’ll tell you why. That’s because we’re seeing peace through strength. The remarkable strength of the Israeli military combined with the precise execution of those B-2 strikes in Iran have put Israel in a much stronger position to negotiate with Hamas. Think about where we were prior to October 7th. I was the last senator to meet with Bibi Netanyahu in Jerusalem prior to the terrible and horrible Hamas terror attack on October 7th. But since Hamas launched that terror attack against innocent Israelis, the Israelis have basically dismantled Hamas, dismantled Hezbollah, put the Houthis on their heels, and they now have control of the Iranian airspace. So that position of strength is what exactly is needed, working with the United States to work out some kind of deal and hopefully a ceasefire in Gaza.
Daines on Iran’s uranium enrichment:
If this uranium is for peaceful purposes, why are they doing it hundreds of feet below ground? Why aren’t they doing it out in the open? If they want nuclear power, they can get nuclear power without having to develop it themselves. The reason the Iranians are trying to enrich uranium is they want to build a bomb. They chant, “Death to America, Death to Israel.” So they better watch out with the rhetoric that they are talking about here because we’re not going to allow them. The Israelis are not going to allow them to build a nuclear bomb. And so that’s laughable what he just said. And if they want nuclear power, they can get it peacefully.
Daines on potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia:
Well, Vladimir Putin understands one thing and respects only one thing, and that is strength and power. The stronger the Ukrainians’ hand is, the stronger the America’s hand is in these discussions and negotiations, the better the outcome is going to be for Ukraine. I’m pleased to see what President Trump has done, working with the NATO nations and the European nations to increase their military spending. That’s an important deterrence. It’s also important we keep the threat of sanctions against Russia as a primary objective. The Russians are vulnerable in their economy. We have aggressive sanctions ready to go in the U.S. Senate, led by Lindsey Graham. We have over 80 U.S. senators signed on that, including myself. And Vladimir Putin fears sanctions, and President Trump has made that very, very clear. So there’s economic power we can use, as well as continuing to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to take that fight to the Russians.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins