Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain said something on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday about the U.S.’s handling of the ongoing standoff between Russia and Ukraine that surprised host Bob Schieffer.
“I’m ashamed of my country, I’m ashamed of my president and I’m ashamed of myself that I haven’t done more to help these people,” McCain said. “It is really, really heartbreaking.”
McCain was expressing his frustration with how the U.S. and major European powers like France and Germany have failed to stop Russian president Vladimir Putin’s advance on Ukraine.
“I believe that German chancellor and president of France legitimized for the first time in 70 years the dismemberment of a country in Europe. It’s shameful. Vladimir Putin has not paid any price,” McCain said.
McCain supports providing weapons to Ukraine to help fight against the Russians and pro-Russian separatists. The Ukranians “are not asking for American boots on the ground, but merely weapons to defend themselves against the Russian onslaught,” McCain said.
“Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine not to be part of Europe, and he is succeeding in doing so,” McCain continued, adding “this is really a dark chapter in the history of our alliance.”
Schieffer circled back to McCain’s comments about being ashamed because of the U.S.’s failure to intervene, expressing just how surprised he was to hear the Republican say that.
“I’ll say this, senator, I’ve known you for a long, long time, interviewed you many, many times, and I’ve never heard you say I’m ashamed of my country, which you just said,” said Shieffer.
“And I’m ashamed of myself,” McCain responded.
