Senator Thom Tillis says ‘Putin is playing President Trump like a fiddle’ and asks who is saying no to Patriot missile transfers for Ukraine

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis stated that Putin is “playing President Trump like a fiddle” and asked who inside the U.S. government is blocking Patriot missile transfers to Ukraine. According to The Hill, Tillis made the remarks in a CNN interview on Monday after a call with Zelensky and other senators. He also called a proposed summit involving Trump, Putin and China’s Xi Jinping “absurd.”

Tillis described Putin’s stated reason for invading Ukraine as a lie. He argued that Trump’s decisions to buy Russian diesel and ease sanctions on Moscow are mistakes the United States will later regret. The senator also warned that history would judge America poorly if the country did not stand against Putin and he got his way.

Zelensky told the senators that obtaining Patriot interceptors has become harder, Tillis relayed. Some of the missiles Ukraine wants would come from other nations willing to supply them, though American defense officials must approve each transfer. Tillis added, “I want to know who in the government is saying no to those transfers.” He noted the missiles would not come from U.S. inventories.

Sanctions waiver draws mixed reactions

ABC News reported that Trump signed an order on Friday waiving sanctions under the Graham Act. The law is named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who backed the sanctions package on Russia that lawmakers approved a month earlier. The White House stated that the act gives the president added authority to pursue a peaceful resolution.

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy posted a Wall Street Journal editorial on X that criticized Trump’s handling of Russia. He wrote, “Reagan and Lindsey would be ashamed of this.” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) stated he was glad Trump used the authority Congress granted, according to ABC News.

The diesel deal drew a separate letter from 12 senators, six Republicans and six Democrats, which NPR member station KUOW covered. The group asked the president to rescind the arrangement. Zelensky also criticized the deal, after which Trump stated Ukraine needs a new president.

The Washington Post reported that the administration had not approved the Patriot transfers, some of which would come from allied countries. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had not formally rejected the request, the report stated, but had not taken the steps needed to approve it. Hegseth denied any change in policy and stated the department wants U.S. forces supplied with as many interceptors as possible, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

Tillis also raised concerns about Starshield, SpaceX’s defense-focused counterpart to Starlink. The Associated Press reported that the Starshield connection cuts out when a terminal moves faster than about 100 mph, which affects interceptor drones chasing Russian Shahed drones.

Tillis, Cornyn, Collins and Murkowski signed a letter sent last week that asks the Defense Department’s inspector general to look into whether senior officials ordered or knew of the decision. Newsweek reported that Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen led the bipartisan effort. Zelensky informed Tillis and his colleagues on Monday that Starshield data speeds had still not returned to normal.