During a Friday appearance on CNN’s The Lead, Sen. Adam Schiff was asked by host Jake Tapper whether President Trump should be credited for attempting to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. Trump had just met with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in a high-profile effort to negotiate an end to the fighting.
Schiff, a longtime Trump critic, hedged when given the chance to acknowledge the attempt. “Look, I’m all for any attempt to bring an end to the bloodshed,” he said, before pivoting to criticize Trump’s approach. Schiff argued that a “far more successful strategy” would have been providing Ukraine more military and material support, including targeting Russia’s fuel lines feeding the war effort.
Tapper noted that President Biden’s Ukraine strategy had failed to deliver peace, setting up the contrast with Trump’s fresh push. Schiff conceded that Biden’s approach “didn’t succeed,” admitting that his party had been too slow in providing resources to Kyiv. But he quickly accused Trump of “undercutting” Ukraine since taking office by not advancing sanctions and blocking bipartisan legislation aimed at punishing Russia.
The Alaska meeting was a centerpiece of Trump’s push to deliver on his campaign promise of ending the war. The president has repeatedly said he wants peace talks, warning Putin that sanctions could escalate if negotiations stalled. Following the meeting, Trump spoke directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, stressing that his goal was to stop the bloodshed and move toward a durable peace.
Schiff, however, maintained his skepticism. “We have a bipartisan bill to sanction Russia. The President hasn’t allowed that legislation to move forward,” he said. “The President’s own threat of imposing sanctions he withdrew on, at least until now. So I don’t think this is the successful negotiating posture Ukraine deserves.”
The remarks underscore how Democrats remain split over how to react to Trump’s peace push. While many acknowledge Biden’s policies stalled, figures like Schiff are hesitant to hand Trump a political win on the global stage.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict began under the Obama administration and exploded into full-scale war during Biden’s tenure, even after Washington funneled billions into Ukrainian aid. Biden’s sanction strategy, including penalties on Russian banks and halting Nord Stream 2, did little to stop Putin from advancing. By the time Russian forces struck Kyiv, Biden’s vows of “decisive” consequences rang hollow, as Moscow pressed forward anyway.
Trump, in contrast, has emphasized a negotiated end rather than indefinite military aid. Since returning to the White House, he has prioritized peace talks and positioned himself as the only leader capable of compelling Putin to the table. That posture has earned him praise from some European allies, though critics like Schiff say it risks trading away Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
For viewers watching Schiff on CNN, the exchange highlighted the political tension: even when confronted with Biden’s failures and Trump’s active diplomacy, Schiff couldn’t bring himself to say Trump deserves any credit. Instead, he fell back on familiar talking points, raising doubts about sanctions and accusing the administration of weakening Ukraine’s hand.
The moment captured a broader truth — Trump’s peace efforts are forcing Democrats into an uncomfortable corner. They can’t dismiss Biden’s failed strategy, but they also refuse to acknowledge Trump’s attempts at brokering peace without first finding ways to attack him. In the meantime, Trump continues to press forward, promising that his administration is moving beyond mere ceasefires toward a lasting peace deal.