Don Bacon

Representative Don Bacon, one of Congress' most outspoken Republican supporters of Ukraine, publicly rebuked President Donald Trump after the president responded to a question about his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by saying he wants the Ukrainian leader to simply "end the war."

Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, accused the White House of creating "moral ambiguity" about the conflict and argued that Russia bears sole responsibility for starting the war.

"Moral ambiguity continues to grip the WH," Bacon wrote on X Thursday. "It's Putin who started this war and is doing the invading. Blame Putin. This is embarrassing."

Read More on News

The criticism came after Trump was asked by reporters Wednesday about his meeting with Zelensky in Washington the day before.

"It was good," Trump said. "Look, you know, he's out doing his thing. I'd like him to end the war. So, it's very simple. I get along with both. I get along with President Putin. I get along with President Zelensky. And like I told him, I want him to end the war, get the war ended."

Trump added that "25,000 people died last month" and said the death toll was "not acceptable."

"So I said, just end the war."

A White House official, responding to Newsweek via email on Thursday, said that Trump wants to bring an end to the conflict because of the human cost of the war.

"The President has a humanitarian heart and wants this war settled so the senseless killing ends," the official said. "The President and his team remain committed to continuing to play a constructive role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, and he remains optimistic that we'll ultimately get a peace deal done."

The White House defended the administration's engagement with both Moscow and Kyiv as part of its effort to negotiate a settlement.

"The United States continues to play a constructive role in speaking to both sides in working towards bringing the war to an end," the official said. "We are the only country in the world that can play that role."

Bacon, however, suggested Trump's wording risked obscuring responsibility for the conflict, which began when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Bacon's Warnings on Russia and Ukraine

Bacon's latest post is not an isolated criticism.

The congressman, who is not seeking reelection and will leave office in January, has emerged as one of the most consistent Republican voices challenging Trump's rhetoric on Russia, Ukraine and NATO.

In March, Bacon warned that Trump appeared to be pursuing a policy of appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin and argued that a peace settlement must not reward aggression. He wrote at the time that Americans reject Putin and should not pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions.

Earlier this year, Bacon pushed back after Trump criticized Zelensky. The lawmaker wrote "Putin started this war" and described efforts to portray Kyiv as responsible as morally and factually wrong.

Beyond Ukraine, Bacon has frequently defended NATO and traditional U.S. alliances. He recently blasted Trump's remarks about Greenland as "foolish," warning that threats toward Denmark and Greenland, both close U.S. partners, were damaging trust between America and Europe.

The Nebraska Republican has likewise criticized moves that he believes weaken longstanding security relationships and has warned that abandoning post-World War II alliances would embolden authoritarian powers.

Bacon has also expressed concern about upheaval within the national security establishment during Trump's second term, including the departures and removals of senior military leaders and national security officials. As a former military officer, he has repeatedly argued that the United States benefits from strong alliances, experienced military leadership and clear opposition to Russian aggression.

What Is Happening in Ukraine Now?

Bacon's comments come at a crucial moment in the war.

The conflict is now in its fifth year, with Russia and Ukraine continuing to exchange large-scale drone and missile attacks while diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

Earlier this week, Zelensky traveled to Washington for talks with Trump and other U.S. officials amid renewed discussions about military cooperation, sanctions on Russia and possible pathways toward negotiations. Recent conversations have included Patriot missile production, air defense support and efforts to revive peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

At the same time, Ukraine has been expanding its use of long-range strikes against Russian targets far from the front line.

One of the most dramatic developments came last weekend in the Caspian Sea, where Ukraine claimed responsibility for strikes against vessels linked to Russian and Iranian military logistics, highlighting the increasingly global dimensions of the conflict.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to press its war aims, including maintaining control over territory it claims to have annexed. Moscow has shown little indication it is prepared to abandon those objectives despite mounting economic pressure and ongoing sanctions.

The fighting has increasingly overlapped with tensions in the Middle East as Ukraine accuses Iran of aiding Russia's war effort and Tehran accuses Kyiv of broadening the conflict through attacks connected to Iranian interests.

Trump and Zelensky Relationship Improving

Trump's relationship with the Ukrainian leader has gone through dramatic swings since Trump's return to office. After a series of public clashes and disagreements over U.S. support, recent meetings have been markedly more cordial.

Following this week's White House talks, both sides described discussions as productive. Zelensky has also publicly indicated that his relationship with Trump has improved substantially.

In a recent interview with conservative activist Laura Loomer, Zelensky said "the tone has changed" in his dealings with the president and described an earlier meeting between the two leaders as a pivotal moment that helped repair ties.

Trump has likewise softened aspects of his public rhetoric toward Zelensky compared with some of his sharpest criticism earlier in his presidency.

Why Laura Loomer's Change of Position Matters

Loomer, a staunch Trump ally who previously echoed many criticisms of U.S. support for Ukraine, recently visited the country and emerged with a dramatically different assessment.

After touring sites affected by the war, visiting Bucha and witnessing air raid alerts firsthand, Loomer said she had underestimated Ukraine's suffering and acknowledged that some of her previous views had been influenced by Russian propaganda narratives.

She subsequently praised Ukrainian resilience. Ukrainian officials welcomed her comments, and the episode was widely viewed as evidence that support for Ukraine may be broadening among at least some influential Trump-aligned voices.

The shift does not mean consensus has emerged on the right. Significant divisions remain over military aid, sanctions and the best path toward ending the war. But Loomer's comments reflected a broader trend in which some conservatives who once viewed Ukraine skeptically have become more critical of Putin and more sympathetic toward Kyiv.

While many Republicans have hesitated to directly challenge Trump on foreign policy, Bacon has repeatedly argued that clarity matters when discussing the war.

For him, the issue is straightforward: Russia started the conflict. Ukraine was invaded.

Trump's call for Zelensky to "end the war" may have been intended as a plea for peace. But for Bacon, the wording itself was the problem.