"This would spiral Ukraine into chaos": U.S. Senator condemns calls for Zelenskyy's resignation

Lankford made this statement on Sunday on NBC’s "Meet the Press", Politico reported.

“I don’t agree. … I’m not interested in calling on the resignation of other world leaders,” the senator said. “Quite frankly, I think that would spiral Ukraine into chaos right now — trying to find who is the negotiator to bring an issue to peace.”

When asked by host Kristen Welker whether he was concerned that the U.S. might turn away from Ukraine, Lankford replied "no" and denounced Putin's behavior.

“No, we’re not turning our back on Ukraine, nor should we,” Lankford said. “Putin is a murderous KGB thug that murders his political enemies and is a dictator there.”

The outlet adds that Lankford is a long-time supporter of Ukraine. He became the latest Republican to defend Zelenskyy, thereby highlighting divisions on this issue within the Republican Party.

Earlier, Republican Senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski criticized Trump and Vance's attacks on Zelenskyy on Friday, stating that the U.S. is "walking away from our allies and embracing Putin" in a post on X on Saturday.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota) said that Zelenskyy had been excited to go to the White House before his meeting on Friday.

“I was appalled by what happened in the Oval Office,” she said on ABC’s “This Week.” “I was with President Zelenskyy with a number of Republican and Democratic senators before he left for the White House. He was in great spirits. He was excited to go and sign this minerals agreement which is something that was very important to President Trump and I think that’s actually what’s come out of this is not in President Trump’s best interest.”

• On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for a working visit. During the press conference, a dispute arose between Trump, Zelenskyy, and U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance.
• It was later revealed that the joint press conference of Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump was canceled following the argument.
• After the quarrel at the White House, European leaders and U.S. politicians began expressing support for Zelenskyy and Ukraine. 
• U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the Ukrainian president "must come to his senses and return to the negotiating table with gratitude, or someone else should lead the country."
• U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said that his country would not provide money to Ukraine if it "does not strive for peace."
• On March 2, a summit of European leaders focused on the defense of Ukraine and Europe against Russian aggression began in London. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit. Summing up the London summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared that he and French President Emmanuel Macron are developing their own, alternative to the U.S., plan for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
• Zelenskyy also met with King Charles III in the UK. On the night of March 2-3, he announced his return home and summarized his visits to the United States and the United Kingdom.