Grassley warns Trump that Russia is playing US 'as a patsy' amid peace negotiations

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley on Friday urged President Donald Trump to punish Russia for attacking Ukraine during peace negotiations, and warned him that Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing the U.S. "as a patsy." 

The warning comes the same day U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow to further peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which the United States is helping to orchestrate. The meeting marked the fourth such occasion of Trump's second term. 

It also comes the day after Trump slammed Russia for attacking Ukraine. But the president has primarily criticized Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky since taking office for not working harder on securing the peace deal, per Politico.

"IVE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women + children," Grassley posted to X. "President Trump [please] put the toughest of sanctions on Putin. [You] ought to [see] from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy."

The comment is not the first time that Grassley has separated from Trump on the Russia-Ukraine war. He also pushed back on Trump's criticism of Zelensky last month, slamming Putin as a dictator who had kidnapped "thousands" of children.

The warning comes as the Trump administration hopes to secure a peace deal by the president's 100th day in office, which falls at the end of this month.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.