Tillis: Putin is ‘playing President Trump like a fiddle,’ warns Trump would be judged for abandoning Ukraine

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “playing President Trump like a fiddle” by shifting U.S. support away from Ukraine and warned that “history” will judge President Trump poorly if he abandons Ukraine.

The Hill reported Oct. 20, 2026, that Tillis made the remarks and criticized Putin’s stated rationale for the invasion.

Tillis also called Putin’s claim that he invaded Ukraine to “de-Nazify” the country a lie, The Hill reported.

Source: TheHill.com Just In