众议员麦克考尔周日表示，美国应该向俄罗斯施加更多压力，迫使俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京谈判结束其与乌克兰的战争.
“我认为我们需要对普京实施更严厉的制裁，”麦考尔告诉美国广播公司新闻频道“本周”的联合主播玛莎·拉达茨。“如果你想要一场严肃的谈判，如果普京要做出任何让步，就必须对他施加压力。”
俄罗斯入侵乌克兰已经四年半了，但战争正在升级。乌克兰在周末对俄罗斯发动了大规模攻击，包括在圣彼得堡，普京正在那里出席一个经济会议。
前众议院外交事务委员会主席麦克考尔是18名参加投票的共和党人周四向乌克兰提供援助，并对俄罗斯实施更严厉的制裁，对抗众议院共和党领导层。麦克考尔周日坚定地为乌克兰辩护。
“只要我能帮助乌克兰，惩罚普京，我都会参与这场斗争，”他说。“事实是，乌克兰人正在赢得这场战斗，他们正在夺回领土。”
麦克考尔说，他正在与参议院的同事合作，推出额外的立法，对俄罗斯和普京实施更严厉的制裁。
伊朗战争100天
Raddatz:但是你真的认为这是停火吗?他们在交火。为什么还是停火?
麦考尔:确实如此。本质上是防御性的。我同意杰克·基恩将军的意见。老实说，我认为伊朗人在拖延时间。他们想把这件事拖到接近中期选举的时候。我认为他们没有诚意谈判。我是说，听着，你必须付出，如果你能-
Raddatz:奥巴马政府为此做好准备了吗，准备好关闭霍尔木兹海峡了吗?
麦考尔:在应急计划中很明显，伊朗有能力关闭海峡。所以，我知道那一定是在他们的计算之中。我认为他们认为在除掉最高领导层和阿亚图拉之后，这个政权会崩溃，但这并没有发生。所以，你知道，现在，我-这是50年来第一位真正尝试解决这个问题的总统。一个拥有核武器的伊朗是不可接受的。我们一直这么说。自1979年以来的历届总统。我作为上届国会的主席通过了一项决议，说，通过一切必要的手段，阻止一个拥有核武器的伊朗。所以，他正在采取行动。
关于中期选举
Raddatz:但他最近几周也表示，随着战争的继续，他不会考虑美国人的财务状况。还说他不在乎期中考试。你认为那是真的吗?
麦考尔:我认为他把国家安全放在第一位。一个拥有核武器的伊朗是不可接受的。我确实认为美国人民，尽管他们看到高油价，负担能力将是中期选举的一个问题。
比尔·普尔特被任命为国家情报局代理局长
麦考尔:我认为他没有法定资格。他没有任何国家安全情报背景。我之前申请了FISA的搜查令国会。如果下周，就在世界杯足球赛和250周年纪念日之前，我们陷入黑暗，那将是我22年任期中见过的最不负责任的事情。
Rep. McCaul says US should be tougher on Russia: 'I'm in on that fight'
Rep. Michael McCaul said Sunday that the U.S. should put more pressure on Russia that would force Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to itswar with Ukraine.
“I think we need to put tougher sanctions on Putin,” McCaul told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “If you want a serious negotiation, Putin has to have pressure put on him if he is going to make any concessions at all.”
It has been 4 1/2 years since Russia invaded Ukraine, but the war is escalating. Ukraine launched major attacks on Russia over the weekend, including in St. Petersburg, where Putin was present for an economic conference.
McCaul, a former chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, was one of18 Republicans who votedThursday to send aid to Ukraine and apply tougher sanctions on Russia, bucking House Republican leadership. McCaul was firm in his defense of Ukraine Sunday.
“Anytime I can help Ukraine and punish Putin, I'm in on that fight," he said. "And the fact is that the Ukrainians are winning this fight, they're taking back territory."
McCaul said he is working with his colleagues in the Senate to introduce additional legislation to put tougher sanctions on Russia and Putin.
On 100 days of the Iran war
Raddatz:But do you really think it’s a cease-fire? They’re trading fire. Why is it still a cease-fire?
McCaul:That’s true. Defensive in nature. I agree with Gen. Jack Keane on this one. I think that -- that, honestly, the Iranians are dragging this out. They want to drag this out closer to the midterm elections. I don’t think they’re negotiating in good faith. I mean, look, you’ve got to give, if you can --
Raddatz:Was the administration prepared for this, prepared for the Strait [of Hormuz] to be closed?
McCaul:It was obvious in the contingency plans that Iran had that capability, the capacity to close the strait. So, I know that had to be in their calculation. I think they thought the regime would implode after taking out the top leadership and the Ayatollah, and that didn’t happen. And so, you know, now, I -- this is the first president in 50 years to actually try to do something about the problem. A nuclear Iran is not acceptable. We’ve always said that. Every president since 1979. I passed a resolution as chairman in the last Congress, say, by all means necessary, stop a nuclear Iran. So, he is taking action on the brink of that.
On the midterm elections
Raddatz:But he has also said in recent weeks that he doesn’t think about Americans' financial situation as the war continues. Also said he doesn’t care about the midterms. Do you think that is true?
McCaul:Well, I think what he’s putting national security first. A nuclear Iran is not acceptable. I do think the American people, though, as theysee high gas prices, affordability is going to be an issue in this midterm.
On Bill Pulte's appointment to acting director of national intelligence
McCaul:I don’t believe he’s statutorily qualified. He doesn’t have any national security intelligence background. I applied for FISA warrants prior toCongress. If we go dark next week, right before the World Cup FIFA games, and the 250th anniversary, that would be the most grossly irresponsible thing I've seen Congress do in my 22 years in office.
