Pence: Putin a ‘small and bullying leader’

Mike Pence took a shot at Russian President Vladimir Putin during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, calling him a “small and bullying leader.”

The critique came as Pence, Donald Trump’s running mate, ripped into Hillary Clinton’s “Russian reset” during her time as secretary of State in the Obama administration.

{mosads}“Hillary Clinton’s top priority when she became secretary of State was the Russian reset. After the Russian reset, the Russians invaded Ukraine and took over Crimea,” Pence said.

“The small and bullying the leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States to the point where all the United States of America, the greatest nation on Earth, just withdraws from talk about a cease-fire while Putin puts a missile defense system in Syria,” the Indiana governor said before urging an expansion of the U.S. military to “project American strength in the world.”

“The provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength,” Pence said, calling for a missile defense shield to be put in the Czech Republic and Poland. “U.S. efforts to do this have been a point of derision with Russia.”

Pence’s line was perhaps the toughest language the Trump campaign has used when talking about Putin.

Democrats have accused Trump and members of his campaign of having close ties to Russia, citing times when the real estate mogul has praised Putin for strong leadership.

Tim Kaine, Clinton’s running mate, amplified those accusations during the debate. 

“Hillary Clinton has the ability to stand up to Russia in a way this ticket does not. Donald again and again has praised Vladimir Putin, and it’s clear he has business dealings with Russian oligarchs that are very connected to Putin,” the Virginia senator responded.

“The Trump campaign management team had to be fired about a month ago because of shadowy connections with pro-Russian forces. If you don’t know the difference between dictatorship and leadership, you have to go back to a fifth-grade civics class.”

Kaine was referring to Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, who has represented officials in Ukraine.