GOP senator: Putin 'loving' Trump over decision to cut off aid to Ukraine

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "loving" U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pause military aid to Ukraine after a disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

NBC News reported Tuesday that Trump handed Putin the "upper hand" in his war on Ukraine after military aid was halted over the spat with Zelensky.

Later on Tuesday, Tillis reported reacted to Trump's actions.

ALSO READ: 'Absolutely unconscionable': Ex-Republican demands Trump removed from office after fight

"Look, if I am Putin, I'm loving a pause," Tillis said, according to CNN's Manu Raju. "I'm plussing up troops at the border. I'm trying to get more drones from Iran. I'm trying to get more crap from North Korea, I'm getting the illicit money coming from China, and I'm loving a pause, and I'm loving a cessation of a resupply to Ukraine."