U.S. Senator concerned over potential Russian access to sensitive Ukraine war talks amid Signalgate

In an interview with Foreign Policy, Schiff emphasized the need for further investigation despite the White House's official statement that the issue was “closed” on their end. He stated, "But there are any number of unanswered questions, and the most significant of which is how many other chats like this have been going on in an unsecured commercial app?" He added, "I think we have to assume that some of these conversations may have been accessed by adversaries. So, what work do we now have to do to protect the sources that might have been exposed?"

Schiff's primary concern revolves around the potential compromise of U.S. sources in Yemen due to these disclosures. He also expressed anxiety about the possibility that other chats discussed sensitive topics such as Russia's war against Ukraine. He remarked, "And if some of the public reporting is correct, that there were other Signal chats talking about the war in Ukraine, and the Russians were able to penetrate those phones, then the Russians know what our thinking is, how we hope to negotiate a cease-fire, what pressure we’re willing to put on Ukraine or on Russia, what is real and what is bluster or bluff."

The senator further critiqued the Trump administration's handling of classified information, asserting that it undermined efforts to achieve a ceasefire. "But more broadly, our allies have to look at this and think, once again, the Trump administration cannot be trusted with sensitive intelligence because they’re going to be reckless in its handling," Schiff concluded.

Schiff also told Foreign Policy that Putin "has Trump’s number" and views him as "a child who can be easily controlled and manipulated." 

He slammed Trump’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his administration’s suspension of military aid, calling it "the most shameful exhibition in American foreign policy in decades."

Despite Trump’s recent tough talk on Russia, Schiff doubts his resolve. 

"Even if Trump were momentarily inclined to punish Russia, all Putin has to do is say a few things that are nice about Trump and he can get Trump to back up. I don’t think we can have any confidence in the president’s willingness or ability to stand up to Putin. He admires him too much. He’s afraid of him for reasons we don’t fully understand. Maybe it’s just the nature of his love of dictatorship or Trump’s fondness for money," he said.

Schiff also warned about Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling him the "real secretary of state" and accusing him of being "completely duped by Putin."

On the ongoing war, Schiff stressed that "we all want an end to the fighting, but the terms matter a great deal."

"We don’t want the war to end with Ukraine surrendering its sovereignty or its territorial integrity," he added.

He argued that withholding aid from Ukraine only emboldens Russia and weakens U.S. deterrence against China.