Gilmore: US Has Made a ‘180 Degree’ Shift on Ukraine

We just got earlier word that the State Department is, in fact, sending an evacuation order for non-emergency government employees in Saudi Arabia. There were earlier reports of a Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco. What are we preparing for? Well, I think that the parties have made it clear that they're going to continue to attack Saudi Arabia. Uh, they attacked the headquarters of last week or about eight days ago. Now they've done another attack today. And while they did not damage the facilities, there were two deaths, which, of course, sends a message into Saudi Arabia that there is that there's a in doubt. But on the other hand, I think we have to look at two things. First of all, the, uh, the there are a lot of countries that are rallying to Saudi Arabia on this and that that's really necessary for the international relations of this. You have that, uh, program of Turkey and Pakistan, uh, that are beginning to rally under their new arrangement. The United Kingdom has just indicated they're going to send airplanes in order to help protect Saudi Arabia. Egypt has stated that they want to be supportive. So the United States is their major security person. We're still there, but we're not the only ones that are there. And frankly, this is a major geopolitical advancement on behalf of Saudi Arabia. But, uh, you know, uh, I, I would not underestimate the fact that Iran, through its proxies, including the who it is, are asserting that they're going to, as in the ongoing days, control or at least influence the supply of oil and energy out of the Middle East. So this is ongoing. It is going to continue. I personally believe that, uh, we need to be focused on the European aspects. But, you know, I've always said that, um, well, in on what's happening on the European continent, obviously, the deadliest war since World War two is ongoing. Uh, ambassador, I wonder, as a former diplomat yourself, what you make of Steve Whitcomb characterization today as Vladimir Putin being a humanitarian. Yes. An American hostage who was wrongfully detained was released. But is Putin a humanitarian on the grounds? No, Putin is a war criminal. Uh, and he should be treated as a war criminal. You can thank somebody for releasing a hostage. Uh, if you really think that a criminal releasing a hostage is something to praise them for. Uh, I would not be flattering, uh, in the world stage, uh, Vladimir Putin. Uh, but I think the bigger picture is, uh, where are we headed? Here. And, uh, that's what I really want to to hear about. Where are we trying to get to here? Uh, this, uh, in the past week has been a dramatic 180 degree reversal of United States policy with respect to the, uh, to the Ukraine war. I mean, very dramatic. I was actually traveling overseas when I heard about a lot of this, but, uh, not only, of course, do we have the diesel oil plan that's been going to put money into the pockets of the Russians. Uh, but the, uh, dramatic pausing of the, uh, of the, uh, sanctions bill that was passed. The Graham sanctions bill was passed. Uh, Zelensky was asked by the president to step down, which was, I think, astonishing. Uh, so I believe personally that we need to be standing behind Ukraine. I've made that clear. If there's another play at work here, uh, I think the American people are entitled to know what that is so that we can address it and support it if it's justified to be supported. Yeah. We saw what you wrote in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the president's approach to Ukraine, and you said it is past time for the president to explain what kind of world he's trying to bring about. This policy is being conducted in the name of the American people. What is his goal? Do you think you have an answer? Uh, based on the actions of this president, governor, is he not firmly seeming to be in support of Russia? Uh, he seems to be firmly in support of Russia, but that is I listen, I was a soldier during the during the Cold War in West Germany. I've seen what happens when the Russians are in charge of the countries conquering countries re-establishing their empire, which I believe is what Putin wishes to do. If there's some countervailing deal someplace, we ought to know what that is, because this is not just a business arrangement. This is a foreign policy arrangement involving the future of Europe and the future, frankly, of our alliance, our friends and our own freedoms. I believe we have a lot at stake here. And I've said that I think we're entitled to some explanations on this 180 degree reversal that we've seen just in the past week. Well, in addition to your experience as an ambassador in the president's first term, you also and your service, which we thank you for, you also were a governor in the chair of the RNC. And I wonder with your political hat on, not just the diplomatic hat on who is concerned with geopolitics, geopolitical issues, why American voters should care about the 180 degree turn on Ukraine that you are describing. If their primary issue at home is affordability, and they see the president trying to address diesel prices by allowing more Russian diesel onto the market, why would you tell a voter that that is a bad thing? Well, look, uh, I think this, um, the the Americans always concerned about the affordability issues, and I think they are in this case as well. But I think Americans are also concerned about the foreign policy issues that are going on, and particularly this, uh, this reverse and this direction towards supporting Putin and his war crimes and his aggressive attack on on Ukraine. Uh, I believe that, uh, the American people ought to recognize the danger that we have here if Russia is able to carry out their mission. And that's a position that I've taken consistently. But I also think we're in a big picture here. There's a lot of instability going on right now. We just finished talking about the Middle East. I believe that the European war is the pivot for the future. We just saw a little demonstration going on near Taiwan. The North Koreans have now moved back more towards their southern border to create some instability. There is a unification here of countries that don't like the Western order that the United States leads. And as long ago, I will also say, as long as we have our friends with us, our allies with us across the world, we're going to be fine. Uh, but I think there is a big challenge ahead. And, uh, we're going to learn a lot, I think, in the coming election. I want to ask you lastly about electoral politics here at home. Uh, governor, and specifically in the state of Virginia, we saw some remarkable numbers today from the University of Florida Election Labs tracker. With nearly 13 million Americans already casting ballots, the states of Georgia and Virginia are leading the states reporting so far. What is this early energy signal to you when it comes to outcomes in November? Well, don't know yet. Of course we we can't say, but, uh, but it seemed to me that, uh, if Virginians are motivated to go out there. This has become much more of a of a blue state. I particularly was in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. suburbs. But I think this I think that statesmanlike tone going forward from this point on and with an understanding and explanations of the American people and what's at stake both in the Middle East and in Europe, and the key importance of American leadership worldwide. We still have the opportunity and the reality of being world leaders. I believe we are, and I think we should be. I think it's the one thing that can keep us away from a real global conflict. I think that the Russians, the Chinese and others are anxious to do the American leadership, though, both militarily, economically and morally and spiritually and with our commitment to democracy. These are things that will prevent a major war in the future. And I hope that the president can lead in that direction, both between now and the midterms and after the midterms.