Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and ex-U.N. ambassador under President Donald Trump, sparked controversy on social media this week after implying that Trump was advancing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interests by pushing for peace talks in Ukraine. Haley criticized Trump for his comments about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator without elections” and alleging that the Ukrainian leader had “done a terrible job” leading a country in crisis. Trump, who previously had praised Zelenskyy’s leadership, took a step back from his support, suggesting that Zelenskyy’s actions had led to a situation where Ukraine was heavily reliant on U.S. aid in a war he doubted could be won.

Haley, a former two-term governor and key Trump ally, quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her opposition to Trump’s remarks, accusing him of echoing “Russian talking points.” She implied that Trump’s push for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine was playing into Putin’s hands. The response from the online community was swift and fierce. Many critics on social media accused Haley of parroting neoconservative rhetoric, calling her a “warmonger” and likening her to other political figures who have advocated for more aggressive U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts.

One user responded sharply, saying, “War monger Nikki Haley. I can’t tell you apart from Lindsey Graham. I have to wonder what will be exposed about you. It is like you all out yourself.” Another chimed in, “You are WRONG on every level! These are NOT ‘Russian talking points’ but to interfere in negotiations, like you are, proves you should NEVER be allowed to run for POTUS ever again.”

Haley’s criticism of Trump’s stance on Ukraine comes at a time when the former president has been outspoken about his desire to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. In recent comments, Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of a deal and suggested that he could help broker peace talks between the two countries. “I don’t need Russian talking points. I don’t support the current conflict and think we shouldn’t give another dime of military aid since they already ‘misplaced’ 100 billion dollars,” one Twitter user replied in defense of Trump’s position.

Meanwhile, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s position that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were a priority, and emphasized the broad range of options available to the U.S. to ensure that any peace agreement met Ukraine’s needs. Vance, a strong supporter of Trump, clarified that there were economic and military pressures that the U.S. could apply to both Russia and Ukraine, depending on the situation. He also noted that Trump was determined to work toward a deal that would resolve the conflict in Ukraine, with potential incentives for Russia if it agreed to cooperate.

The vice president further elaborated on Trump’s approach to the crisis, stating that the former president was committed to using all available tools—ranging from economic leverage to military deterrents—in order to secure a peace deal. Vance’s comments were seen as a signal to the international community that Trump was serious about bringing an end to the war.

In contrast to Vance’s optimism about a potential peace agreement, Haley’s comments suggest she believes that Trump’s peace initiatives could have unintended consequences, especially regarding U.S. relations with Ukraine and NATO allies. Some observers believe Haley’s remarks reflect a broader divide within the Republican Party, with one faction calling for a more isolationist approach to foreign policy, while another advocates for continued support for Ukraine against Russia.

The debate over the U.S. role in the Ukraine conflict has become one of the central issues in the 2024 GOP presidential race, with candidates like Haley and Trump taking differing positions. While Trump has repeatedly called for a halt to U.S. military aid to Ukraine, Haley has been more in line with the establishment Republican view, which supports continued assistance to Ukraine. However, her criticism of Trump’s foreign policy stance has only deepened the divisions within the party.

In a surprising development, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to share details of a “lengthy conversation” he had with Putin, suggesting that the two leaders were aligned in their desire to reach a peace deal. Trump’s remarks, which implied a close working relationship with the Russian president, further fueled the ongoing debate over the U.S. role in the conflict.