James Lankford says Zelenskyy stepping down would ‘spiral Ukraine into chaos’

Sen. James Lankford rebuked Republican calls for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resign, which were sparked by Friday’s heated Oval Office argument between Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

“I don't agree. … I'm not interested in calling on the resignation of other world leaders,” Lankford (R-Okla.) said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Quite frankly, I think that would spiral Ukraine into chaos right now — trying to find who is the negotiator to bring an issue to peace.”

Lankford’s remarks counter those made by Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday, who on "Meet the Press” prior to Lankford’s interview. Johnson said that Zelenskyy “either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that.” The remarks came two days after the on-camera sparring between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance.

Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful for the U.S.’s assistance with trying to negotiate an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, even taking the attacks a step further by claiming Zelenskyy doesn’t want to agree to a cease-fire.

Though the visit was supposed to finalize negotiations on the Trump-proposed minerals deal, Zelenskyy was ejected from the White House after the Oval Office argument, making him a target for Republican criticism. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters outside of the White House on Friday that he wasn’t sure the U.S. could ever do business with Zelenskyy again, initiating the calls for the Ukrainian president to resign.

Lankford — a longtime supporter of Ukraine — is the latest Republican to come to Zelenskyy’s defense, highlighting significant clash on the issue within the party.

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, slammed Trump and Vance’s attacks against Zelenskyy on Friday, saying the U.S. is “walking away from our allies and embracing Putin,” in a post to X on Saturday.

Other senators also defended Zelenskyy. Speaking Sunday on “Meet the Press,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said ” that the calls for Zelenskyy to resign are a “horrific suggestion.”  

“Zelenskyy is leading a country, trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator, Putin, who invaded his country,” Sanders said. “I think millions of Americans are embarrassed, are ashamed, that you have a president of the United States who says that Ukraine started the war, that Zelenskyy is a dictator — he's got it exactly backward.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said Zelenskyy had been excited to go to the White House before the ill-fated meeting. “I was appalled by what happened in the Oval Office,” she said on ABC’s “This Week.” “I was with President Zelenskyy with a number of Republican and Democratic senators before he left for the White House. He was in great spirits. He was excited to go and sign this minerals agreement which is something that was very important to President Trump and I think that's actually what's come out of this is not in President Trump's best interest.”

When asked by host Kristen Welker if he had concerns about the U.S. turning its back on Ukraine, Lankford said “no,” and denounced Putin’s behavior.

“No, we're not turning our back on Ukraine, nor should we,” Lankford said. “Putin is a murderous KGB thug that murders his political enemies and is a dictator there.”