Tuberville: Zelensky 'not even in the game' on Ukraine war talks

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a staunch supporter of President Trump’s, said Russia and the United States will ultimately determine the fate of the war in Ukraine, saying the war-torn democracy’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is “not even in the game.”

“Zelensky is going to play hardball, but you know what? He's not even in the game,” Tuberville said in an interview on Newsmax.

“It's going to be [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and President Trump and the people on our side that will end up making this decision for the future of Ukraine,” he continued.

Tuberville sharply criticized Zelensky in the interview, suggesting he “for some reason, wants this war to keep going.”

He said Zelensky would be wrong to assume the U.S. would continue giving military aid to his country, which has been fending off Russia’s invasion for more than three years.

Tuberville’s suggestion that Ukraine wants to keep the war going echoes sentiments pushed by Trump, who has falsely blamed Zelensky for starting the war with Russia.

The interview also comes after the explosive Oval Office meeting Friday among Zelensky, Trump and Vice President Vance, which was broadcast live on TV. In the meeting, Zelensky pressed Trump publicly on Putin’s trustworthiness, and the American leaders reprimanded Zelensky for being “disrespectful” and insufficiently grateful of U.S. support.

Trump told Zelensky that his country didn't have "the cards" in negotiations with Russia and that he was gambling with World War III.

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