Nikki Haley Says War In Ukraine ‘One We Have To Win,’ Defeat Risks ‘World War’

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley argued the United States has a national security interest in backing Ukraine until Russia withdraws from the country.

During a CNN town hall Sunday evening, Haley sought to contrast herself with two of the GOP front-runners, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, accusing them of being “too trustful” of Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, while making her case for supporting Ukraine.

“This is bigger than Ukraine. This is a war about freedom, and it’s one we have to win,” Haley said when asked why the war between Russia and Ukraine “should matter to Americans.”

Haley, a former United Nations ambassador and governor of South Carolina, said that ensuring Ukraine beats back the Russian invasion is about deterrence and keeping a stable world order.

“When China said they were going to take Hong Kong, they did it. Russia said they were going to invade Ukraine, we watched that happen. China says Taiwan is next, we better believe them. Russia said Poland and the Baltics are next, if that happens we are looking at a world war,” Haley said. “This is about preventing war, and the way you prevent wars – not that we give cash to Ukraine, not that we put troops on the ground – but that we get with our allies and we make sure we give them the equipment and the ammunition to win.”