section_path: Foreign policy positions/Russian invasion of Ukraine
section_name: Russian invasion of Ukraine
paragraph_text: Russian invasion of Ukraine
  
  In 2019, Gabbard affirmed on MSNBC's Morning Joe that she views Putin as a U.S. adversary.
  
  On February 11, 2022, during the build-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard suggested "President Biden could end this crisis and prevent a war with Russia by... guaranteeing... Ukraine will not become a member of NATO" and that he should do this since it is highly unlikely Ukraine will ever become a member. She expressed skepticism about the motives behind not resolving the issue, blaming "warmongers on both sides in Washington" and suggesting the U.S. might want Russia to invade in order to impose "draconian sanctions" and cement a new Cold War. She criticized this as benefiting "the Military-Industrial Complex that controls so many of our politicians" at the expense of American, Ukrainian, and Russian citizens. On February 13, Gabbard said "It is not in our national security interests for Ukraine to become a member of NATO anyway, so why not give Russia that assurance?"
  
  On February 24, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard repeated her point that "this war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia's legitimate security concerns".
  
  After the invasion, on February 27, Gabbard advocated for a peaceful resolution through neutrality, stating, "It's time to put geopolitics aside and embrace the spirit of aloha, respect and love, for the Ukrainian people by coming to an agreement that Ukraine will be a neutral country.... here would be no Russian or NATO troops on each other's non-Baltic borders. This would allow the Ukrainian people to live in peace."
  
  On April 4, 2022, Gabbard tweeted, "President Putin, not only is your brutal attack on Ukraine reprehensible, it has been a huge geopolitical error which has already cost Russia dearly.... t is the best interest for the Russian people and the people of Ukraine that you pull your forces out now."
  
  Some lawmakers have accused Gabbard of taking foreign policy positions they saw as sympathetic to Russia, and these positions have often resulted in praise from Russian media. However, in 2024 the New York Times noted that no evidence has emerged for a connection between Gabbard to any Russian agencies, although her advocacy for improving US diplomatic ties has made her a popular voice in Russian state media.
  
  In 2019, Gabbard affirmed on MSNBC's Morning Joe that she views Putin as a U.S. adversary.
  
  On February 11, 2022, during the build-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gabbard suggested "President Biden could end this crisis and prevent a war with Russia by... guaranteeing... Ukraine will not become a member of NATO" and that he should do this since it is highly unlikely Ukraine will ever become a member. She expressed skepticism about the motives behind not resolving the issue, blaming "warmongers on both sides in Washington" and suggesting the U.S. might want Russia to invade in order to impose "draconian sanctions" and cement a new Cold War. She criticized this as benefiting "the Military-Industrial Complex that controls so many of our politicians" at the expense of American, Ukrainian, and Russian citizens. On February 13, Gabbard said "It is not in our national security interests for Ukraine to become a member of NATO anyway, so why not give Russia that assurance?"
  
  On February 24, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard repeated her point that "this war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia's legitimate security concerns".
  
  After the invasion, on February 27, Gabbard advocated for a peaceful resolution through neutrality, stating, "It's time to put geopolitics aside and embrace the spirit of aloha, respect and love, for the Ukrainian people by coming to an agreement that Ukraine will be a neutral country.... here would be no Russian or NATO troops on each other's non-Baltic borders. This would allow the Ukrainian people to live in peace."
  
  On April 4, 2022, Gabbard tweeted, "President Putin, not only is your brutal attack on Ukraine reprehensible, it has been a huge geopolitical error which has already cost Russia dearly.... t is the best interest for the Russian people and the people of Ukraine that you pull your forces out now."
  
  Some lawmakers have accused Gabbard of taking foreign policy positions they saw as sympathetic to Russia, and these positions have often resulted in praise from Russian media. However, in 2024 the New York Times noted that no evidence has emerged for a connection between Gabbard to any Russian agencies, although her advocacy for improving US diplomatic ties has made her a popular voice in Russian state media.