Laura Loomer, a prominent ally and adviser to President Donald Trump, is publicly reversing her previous stance on the Russia-Ukraine war after a firsthand visit to Ukraine. In exclusive footage shared with NewsNation, Loomer documents the devastation wrought by Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and makes a passionate case for continued American support.
"Ukraine has a right to defend itself, and the U.S. should keep helping," Loomer said, detailing her interviews conducted in bomb shelters at a DTEK energy facility, which she says was actively targeted by Russian forces despite its proximity to a children's school and playground. She described Russia's strategy as "terrorizing the Ukrainian people" by freezing them and cutting off power to hospitals, aiming to force surrender.
Loomer's change of heart is striking. She admitted to feeling a "moral obligation to undo some of the damage" she caused after being "initially influenced by Russian propaganda" in the U.S. It was the trip to Ukraine that convinced her Russia is solely to blame for the war.
While she understands President Trump's frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over strikes on Russian energy facilities that could raise global diesel prices, Loomer questioned the logic of demanding Ukraine stand idle. "If Russia is saying that they want an end to a war, but they're deliberately targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, what is Ukraine supposed to do? Just sit back and not defend itself?" she asked.
On the contentious issue of sanctions relief for Russia, Loomer voiced strong opposition. Citing testimony from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials, she noted evidence of Russia providing satellite imagery to Iran to target U.S. service members. "Do I personally think that lifting sanctions on Russia is in the best interest of the U.S.? No," she stated, adding that such a move would only fund Putin's war machine.
Loomer acknowledged Trump's frustration, noting his campaign promise to end the war on "Day 1" remains unfulfilled. However, she defended Zelenskyy, arguing that Putin "doesn't really seem to be coming to the table in a good-faith manner" and appears to take "great pleasure in massacring Ukrainian citizens."
Her criticism extended to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently called Putin a "humanitarian" after the release of American prisoner Stephen Hubbard. Loomer dismissed that characterization, asserting Putin is a dictator with "no respect" for Trump or his administration. She also questioned the negotiation roles of Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying their style has been "triggering" for those who hear Putin described in such terms.
The broader context remains grim: Russia has unlawfully deported over 20,000 Ukrainian children since 2022, and human rights abuses against Ukrainian prisoners persist. Loomer's revelations come amid rising scrutiny of the administration's Ukraine policy, including constitutional and security concerns over Trump's reversal, and blame directed at Elon Musk for Starlink slowdowns affecting Ukrainian forces.
