Playboy Model Accuses U.S. of Using Ukraine to 'Strong-Arm' Putin

A Playboy model on Thursday accused the United States of using Ukraine to "strong-arm" Russian President Vladimir Putin on Twitter.

Many conservatives have called out the U.S. for its response to the war in Ukraine, accusing the U.S. of aiding Ukraine for political gain against Russia, including Playboy model, photographer and political influencer Jessica Vaugn.

In a tweet on Thursday, Vaugn wrote: "America cares so little about the fate of Ukraine that it gambles Ukraine being leveled as a result of the strong arming against Putin. Neither of these powers 'care' about the fate of Ukraine. Read it energetically and impersonally and you will know."

Vaugn previously tweeted about Ukraine and Russia, writing in August that "Ukraine is more American imperialism, but in Europe this time. Has been for a long time. If they were sovereign, they'd finance their own border disputes, but they can't, because they're a US subsidiary, which is why we pour into this provocation instead of spending internally."

In a reply to one user asking if she was "okay with Russian imperialism," she responded, "I'm not asked to fund Russian imperialism, only provocation campaigns that instigated it. My opinion is I have no interest in pursuing our assured mutual demise. You're sure welcome to cheer on the state debasing our currency to do so. There's no goal to combat inflation. Lies!"

Another user responded: "So, let Russia retake the Baltic countries, plus Belarus, Moldova, and the whole of Central Asia, because attempting to counter such an imperialist move (Putin actually wants to restore the Russian EMPIRE borders) is American 'imperialism.'"

Vaugn replied: "America First and Libertarian principles would neither fund nor meddle in European border disputes. If we didn't expand NATO, he'd never have invaded Ukraine as evidence of how long he did nothing before western & CCP bioweapon and the west consolidating into a WEF coalition."

Vaugn told Newsweek in a statement: "It feels irresponsible to have Ukraine host a war between two global powerhouses, both of which are nuclearized, while only Ukraine and surrounding nations will suffer the physical ramifications of the assured devastation. I don't think expanding NATO sent any good-faith messages to Russia about our intent. If America finances the likely co-leveling of Ukraine with Russia, or dissuades non-violent diplomatic resolution, I fail to see how this is moral action using our financial investment in the region, and our global influence.

"Ukraine is torn between two nuclear powers who seek direct influence of the region, both for their own reasons. It's pretty intuitive for me that the power that seeks non-violent resolution would reveal themselves to be the nuclear power most invested in negating the assured mutual destruction that awaits us if this conflict continues. I believe all life on the planet breathes together, so I only wish to advocate for what makes global peace possible, warding off nuclear war in every situation."

Other conservatives have previously placed the blame on the U.S. and NATO for the war. Conservative commentator and author Candace Owens said in February that the two were at fault, before Putin even launched the invasion late that month.

"As I've said for month—NATO (under direction from the United States) is violating previous agreements and expanding eastward. WE are at fault," she wrote in a tweet two days before the invasion.

Putin has also accused the U.S. of using Ukraine as "cannon fodder" in an attempt to "prolong" the conflict.

At the Moscow International Security Conference in August, Putin said that the U.S. "and its vassals crudely interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states," as he accused them of organizing "provocations, coups, civil wars" while "threats, blackmail and pressure try to force independent states to submit to their will.

"The situation in Ukraine shows that the U.S. is trying to prolong this conflict."

Update 9/2/22, 5:00 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a statement from Jessica Vaugn.