WASHINGTON () Former Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that Congress should pass harsh secondary sanctions against Russia, strengthening President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.

Pence warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin “only understands strength.”

During an interview on “The Hill on ,” Pence praised Trump for continuing peace negotiations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but said he was skeptical of Putin’s true intentions.

“I really do believe at his core, Putin doesn’t want peace. He wants Ukraine,” Pence told . “Putin will not be stopped until he is stopped.”

Pence called on the U.S. Senate to send Trump legislation imposing secondary sanctions on Russia, which would give the president additional leverage in negotiations.

“Unless we make it clear to Vladimir Putin that there will be severe consequences to his country and his economy, unless he embraces this process toward peace, I’m very skeptical that we’ll make any progress at all,” Pence said.

The former vice president credited Trump’s recent decision to renew military support to Ukraine as “vitally important.”

Pence supports Trump’s DC crime crackdown, National Guard use

Pence strongly endorsed Trump’s deployment of federal resources to address crime in Washington, D.C., including the use of National Guard troops to support local law enforcement.

“If Washington, D.C., was a state, it would have the highest homicide rate in the country,” Pence said, defending Trump’s use of authority under the Home Rule Act.

He indicated support for similar federal intervention in other cities, saying Americans would be grateful to see the president provide resources to state and local law enforcement where necessary.

Pence criticizes tariffs as taxes on American consumers, businesses

The former vice president expressed reservations about the administration’s tariff policies, calling tariffs “taxes” that burden American businesses and consumers.

“American businesses and American consumers pay American tariffs,” Pence said.

He said the administration had collected $150 billion more in tariff revenue compared to the same period under the Biden administration.

Pence advocated for targeted toughness on China while supporting free trade with allied nations.

Pence says he focuses on principles over political successors

When asked about the future of conservative politics and potential successors like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pence emphasized policy over personalities.

“I’m focusing more at this time in my life, not on who will be next, but what will be next in the Republican Party,” Pence said.

He outlined his vision for conservatism centered on strong national defense, limited government, lower taxes, traditional moral values and opposition to abortion rights, principles he said have defined the Republican Party for 50 years.