ICYMI: Chairman Emeritus McCaul on ABC's 'This Week'

WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) - chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees - joined Martha Raddatz on ABC's "This Week" to discuss the latest on Ukraine, Iran, FISA reauthorization, and more.

Click to watch

Excerpts from the interview:

On his recent vote to support Ukraine: "I voted for the Ukraine bill on the House floor this week to provide additional assistance [to Ukraine and put] tougher sanctions on Russia. Any time I can help Ukraine and punish Putin, I'm in on that fight. And the fact is that the Ukrainians are winning this fight. They're taking back territory. ... In response, Putin has sent three hypersonic missiles into Kyiv. ... Deterrence is always the key. I was a critic of the Biden administration for not [providing Ukraine with] enough weapons. I think we need to put tougher sanctions on Putin. If you want a serious negotiation, Putin has to have pressure put on him if he is going to make any concessions at all."

On Ukraine's success and how Congress should help: "They said [the war] would be over in four days. Here we are, four years later. I think the Ukrainians have surprised everybody with their innovation, their drone technology, [and their] modernization of warfare. It's like a laboratory in Ukraine. And the fact that they are pushing the Russians back now - the fact there are 30,000 casualties a month on the Russian side - speaks volumes. And I think Putin is taking a hit now. Putin will not [come] to the negotiating table unless enough pressure is put on him. That's why I think sanctions [are important] - not just the bill we passed this week. ... Lindsey Graham and I are working on a bill; Senator McCormick and I have a tougher sanctions bill. And that's the stuff we need to start doing now to put pressure [on Putin and] to negotiate out of strength, not out of weakness."

On negotiations with Iran: "I agree with General Jack Keane on this one. I think that, honestly, the Iranians are dragging this out. They want to drag this out closer to the midterm elections. I don't think they're negotiating in good faith. Look, you've got to give peace a chance. ... [President Trump] is the first president in 50 years to actually try to do something about the problem. 'A nuclear Iran is not acceptable.' We've always said that, [including] every president since 1979. I passed a resolution as chairman last Congress, stating [that we must], by all means necessary, stop a nuclear Iran. So, he is taking action on the brink of that."

On the importance of FISA: "I applied for FISA warrants prior to [working in] Congress. If we go dark next week [because Democrats refuse to authorize FISA], right before the World Cup FIFA games and the 250th anniversary, that would be the most grossly irresponsible thing I've seen Congress do in my 22 years in office."