Former 2024 GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley was criticized online for comments she made on Wednesday, suggesting that President Donald Trump was doing the bidding of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war. Haley, a former South Carolina governor and Trump’s UN ambassador, criticized Trump’s description of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections” and his claim that Zelenskyy had done a “terrible job.”

Haley took to X, accusing Trump’s stance of aligning too closely with Russian interests, saying, “These are classic Russian talking points. Exactly what Putin wants.” Her comments sparked significant backlash, with many accusing her of being a war monger and irrelevant to the political discourse.

Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, defended Trump’s efforts for peace, emphasizing a broad range of options for negotiations.