Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) came out swinging on Wednesday, accusing President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of “literally negotiating on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin” when it comes to the war in Ukraine.
Moulton didn’t hold back during his appearance on CNN’s AC360, calling Hegseth’s comments about the Ukraine conflict “shocking” and claiming the Trump administration is already handing victories to Putin before talks even start.
“They’re literally doing Putin’s bidding,” Moulton said. “Hegseth is out there trying to sell us exactly what the Kremlin wants, and it’s everything wrong with how you negotiate. It’s like they’ve thrown out all the rules.”
He accused Trump of desperation, saying the president promised to end the war on day one but failed. Now, according to Moulton, Trump is “scrambling” to get a deal, but in doing so, he’s already giving up too much. “It’s like selling the house before you even know what you’re asking for,” Moulton slammed.
The Massachusetts Democrat, who has been to Ukraine during the conflict, suggested that Trump and Hegseth’s approach to these talks might make no sense unless you consider the possibility that they’re both “selling” what Putin wants.
Trump had spoken with both Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier that day, emphasizing his goal to end the war in Eastern Europe. He also said he planned to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia sometime soon, although the date was unclear.
Hegseth stirred further controversy by stating that he doesn’t see Ukraine joining NATO as a “realistic outcome” of the peace talks. This sent Moulton into overdrive, who warned that this negotiation isn’t just about Ukraine—it’s about sending a strong message to other global threats, like China’s Xi Jinping.
Moulton pointed out, “If China goes after Taiwan, we could be looking at World War 3. Tens of thousands of American troops could die in that conflict. There’s so much more at stake here than just Ukraine.”
He also stressed the importance of not letting Putin come out of these talks feeling like he’s won, adding that Trump was already setting him up for victory. “Negotiations matter! We can’t let Putin think he’s got a win before we’ve even started,” Moulton stated.
In another eyebrow-raising comment, Trump suggested that it’s unlikely Ukraine will ever return to its pre-2014 borders, and that Zelensky will “have to do what he has to do.”
Moulton didn’t let up, warning that NATO’s stability and America’s commitment to European defense are in jeopardy. He reminded viewers that for 75 years, NATO has kept peace in Europe with America backing its allies, but if Putin wins, the next target could be other NATO countries, like Poland or Latvia.
“The stakes are huge,” Moulton said. “If Putin gets what he wants in Ukraine, who’s next? And America will be on the line.”
The situation continues to heat up, and Moulton is clear: the U.S. can’t afford to make these missteps.
