A number of GOP figures have voiced opposition to the U.S. getting involved in a potential war, amid fears Ukraine is about to be invaded by Russia.
There have been ongoing concerns that Russia is planning to enter into Ukraine having amassed more than 100,000 troops and a large amount of military equipment along the two countries' border.
The U.S. has also ordered relatives of its embassy staff to leave the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, warning an invasion could come "at any time." Russian troops previously annexed the territory of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar was one of those who said that it is not in the interest of the country to launch an attack if the current military standoff in Europe escalates.
"We have no dog in the Ukraine fight. Not one American soldier should die there, and not one American bullet should be fired there," Gosar said in a January 22 statement.
"We just lost Afghanistan to sandal-wearing goat herders. I assure your Russian military is no joke either. The same clowns urging US intervention have the same stupid ROE that caused losses in Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan."
Gosar also suggested that the U.S. should be more focused on domestic issues, such as the immigration crisis, adding that our "own borders remain open and we have been under a sustained and successful attack" from those illegally entering the country in record numbers.
"Getting involved in a military situation with no US interest [it] is America Last not America First," Gosar added.
A similar sentiment was expressed by Kentucky rep. Thomas Massie after tweeting that the United States "should not be involved in any future war" in Ukraine.
"Too many in our government care about the Ukrainian border more than the U.S. border," Massie said.
Florida congressman and staunch Donald Trump supporter Anthony Sabatini also said that an "American First" policy should mean no U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Sabatini has set up a petition urging President Joe Biden not to involve the U.S. with the situation in Ukraine.
"Joe Biden is failing the American people. Sign my petition today to put AMERICA FIRST and demand that we focus on America's border crisis," the petition states.
A number of other GOP figures have called on Biden to impose tougher sanctions against Russia in order to deter any military action in Ukraine.
On Sunday, GOP Sen. Joni Ernst called on the Biden administration to "act now" impose a new round of sanctions on Russia to try and prevent a potential invasion.
"When it comes to pushing back against Russia, we need to show strength and not be in a position of doctrine of appeasement, which seems to be how President Biden has worked his administration," Ernst told CNN's State on the Union.
"So, we do need to go ahead and impose sanctions on Russia now. We need to show them that we mean business and we will be there for Ukraine should they invade."
Biden has also been criticized by Republicans after he suggested that a "minor incursion" by Russia may result in a less severe response, instead of sending out a stronger message to Putin.
Speaking to Fox News, Texas Rep. Michael McCaul accused Biden of being a "weak president" whose lack of deterrence will result in Putin being able to "conduct what could be the largest invasion in Europe since World War II."
McCaul added: "The key to addressing Russian aggression is deterrence. This administration has done far too little to deter Russia from further invading Ukraine which is why I introduced the GUARD Act. This bill expedites significant additional lethal assistance to Ukraine and immediately sanctions Putin's malign influence project, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
"Slow rolling this type of assistance and support, as Kyiv sits at the epicenter of what could be the biggest conflict since World War II, is absolutely unacceptable."
White House press secretary Jen Psaki later clarified Biden's remarks, stating that any Russian military forces moving across the Ukrainian border will be considered a "renewed invasion" and it will be met with a "swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies."
Fewer than one in six Americans want U.S. soldiers deployed to defend Ukraine if Russia invades the country, according to a poll published on Friday last week, as high level talks got underway in Geneva.
A poll from Convention of States Action (COSA), in partnership with the Trafalgar Group, found that just 15.3 percent of likely general election voters believed the U.S. should provide troops as "boots on the ground" in the event of an invasion.
Across the political divide, Democratic Senator Chris Coons said in an interview with The Hill that he did not support deploying U.S. troops into Ukraine in the event that Russia invades the former Soviet nation, "because frankly, I think we would simply be sacrificing them."
"I do think that we should provide as much support as we possibly can from our NATO allies that are immediately adjacent to Ukraine," he was reported as saying.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
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