Tillis Warns Trump Against Russia Summit With Putin and Xi

President Donald Trump's approach to Russia and a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers and national security analysts concerned about Ukraine's defense. On October 20, 2026, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rebecca Heinrichs, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, argued that Washington risks undermining its position by moving closer to Moscow without coordinating with Ukraine and European allies.

The controversy centers on Trump's openness to meeting Putin and Xi to discuss the war while making no plans to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to CNN. Critics also point to changes in US policy toward Russia, including easing sanctions and restrictions on Ukraine's access to battlefield technology.

Tillis delivered his criticism after speaking with Zelenskyy and appearing on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront on Monday night, October 19. He also described conditions he witnessed during a recent trip to Kyiv, including schools operating underground because of security threats.

Tillis described the consequences of Russia's invasion in his account of the visit.

"I saw what this murderer Vladimir Putin has ordered," Tillis said.

He recounted hearing accounts of sexual violence and killings affecting Ukrainian families and visiting schools that had moved underground to continue operating. He said these experiences reinforced his concerns about the consequences of allowing Moscow to achieve its objectives.

In his criticism of the Russian government, Tillis emphasized that he believed Moscow was misleading the US president.

"Russians are lying," Tillis said.

He followed that statement with a broader warning about the implications for US credibility and Western security.

"Putin is lying. Putin is playing President Trump like a fiddle, and history is not going to look good on an America that failed to rise up and defend the Western world if Putin actually gets his way," Tillis said.

The senator's remarks followed Trump's defense of Russia's conduct in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump said Moscow's actions had been limited.

"frankly, has been fine on Ukraine," Trump said.

He added that Russia had not done much, a characterization that contrasted with Tillis' assessment of the invasion.

"They haven't been doing much," Trump said.

Tillis is not seeking reelection in November 2026. Other lawmakers have also challenged the administration's approach. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida called for stronger economic pressure on Russia in comments to The Associated Press the previous week.

"I think it's clear Russia is the aggressor, and we've got to do everything we can to put economic pressure on Russia," Scott said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also criticized the administration's policy toward Moscow.

"by giving the Russian economy life support, Trump's deal with the devil keeps getting dirtier," Schumer said.

Heinrichs separately warned against holding a Ukraine-focused summit with Putin and Xi without first coordinating with European governments and Kyiv. Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, October 20, she compared the proposed approach with the diplomatic arrangements made among Allied powers near the end of World War II.

"If the President wants to meet with Xi Jinping and Putin to talk about Ukraine, I think that would be a serious mistake. If you want to do something like Yalta, then you have meetings among allies, the United States with the Europeans, with Ukraine, trying to figure out what to do about Russia," Heinrichs said.

She also cited opposition among Republican senators to measures involving Russian diesel purchases and the lifting of sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Sanctions Act. Heinrichs said approximately 14 Republican senators had publicly opposed the arrangements and suggested opposition could grow after the midterm elections.

"With Senator Tillis, there's been about 14 Republican senators who have come out on the record opposing this diesel deal, buying diesel from Russia and also lifting the Lindsey Graham Sanctions Act. So there's a lot more Republicans -- there might be more after the midterms as well. I think that what Senator Tillis is really worried about is that President Trump is not fully appreciating the fact that China and Russia are behind and supporting Iran, who is firing weapons at the United States, trying to kill Americans. And they're collaborating to undermine the United States and Europe," Heinrichs said.

Her concerns extended beyond Ukraine to cooperation between Moscow, Beijing and Tehran. She referred to an Iranian foreign minister's statement that Iran and Russia had strengthened their relationship and cited a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iran's foreign minister.

"never worked as closely as now," Heinrichs said, referring to the Iranian foreign minister's description of relations between Iran and Russia.

Heinrichs argued that Russia's relationship with Iran could have direct consequences for US personnel and interests in the Gulf region. She also cited Lavrov's reported support for Iran's position against the United States and comparisons between Iran's position and Russia's confrontation with Washington and NATO over Ukraine.

"No. And actually, we just saw, after President Trump is arguing now that Zelensky is the one standing in the way of peace, you saw Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, meeting with the foreign minister of Iran. And Lavrov was saying that the Iranian's cause against the United States was, quote, just.

And he compared it positively with Russia's cause against the United States, his effort with NATO in Ukraine. So the Russians are supporting the Iranians. They are providing targeting, which the Iranians are then using to hit Americans in the Gulf region," Heinrichs said.

She also pointed to Russian attacks affecting American commercial interests in Ukraine, alongside strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The businesses she identified included Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Boeing and Philip Morris.

"Look -- the Russians are, yes, they are hitting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, but the Russians are also hitting American businesses in Ukraine -- Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Boeing, Philip Morris -- because the Russians also want the United States to stop support for Ukraine, want the Europeans to stop support for Ukraine. The Russians view the United States as its number one adversary, and they're trying to get the United States to back down and not support Zelensky...I think the best way to make progress is for the United States to actually move closer with the Europeans collectively. I think we can get something done here alongside Ukraine to pressure Russia. But if we're going to pressure the Russians, or if we can't pressure the Russians, I just don't think we're going to get to an end here," Heinrichs said.

Heinrichs' remarks echoed Tillis' opposition to a three-way summit involving the United States, Russia and China. Tillis also questioned the value of negotiations with leaders he viewed as adversaries of Washington.

"Putin is playing President Trump like a fiddle. And history is not going to look good on an America that failed to rise up and defend the Western world if Putin actually gets his way. And I believe that a summit with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, two countries who want to overwhelm the world, is absurd," Tillis said.

The dispute comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over its treatment of Ukraine, its decisions on Russian sanctions and the potential consequences of changes to US military and technological support for Kyiv. The proposed summit has intensified disagreement over whether Washington should pursue direct talks with Moscow and Beijing or first coordinate its response with Ukraine and European allies.