Speaker Paul Ryan scolded President Trump on Monday following his heavily criticized press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin by warning that “the president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally.”
[Related: Trump dismisses Russian election meddling, doesn’t see ‘any reason’ for it]
Ryan, R-Wis., did not criticize Trump as directly as some Republican lawmakers who blasted Trump for partly blaming the United States for the deteriorated relationship between the two nations. But Ryan made it clear that Russia’s own actions are the problem after Trump was also critical of U.S. intelligence operations.
“There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals,” Ryan said. “The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.”
Ryan said “there is no question,” Russia interfered in the 2016 election “and continues to undermine democracy here and around the world.”
[Also read: Robert Mueller indicts 12 Russian officers for election meddling, hacking into Clinton’s emails]
