Mike Pence said there's no room for Putin 'apologists' in the Republican Party as he criticized Russia's 'unconscionable war' in Ukraine: AP

The movement of "unprincipled populism" in the GOP and conservative "apologists" to Putin has been warned by the former Vice President.

During a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington DC-based conservative think tank, Pence spoke on the current state of the Republican Party as it enters a new era.

Our movement can't abandon the security, limited government, and liberty we have to offer. He said that we can't allow our movement to be led astray by the siren song of unprincipled populism that's unmoored from our oldest traditions. A strong national defense, limited government, and traditional moral values and life are what this movement and the party that it's a part of must remain.

The group of Republicans who have defended Russia's war in Ukraine were criticized by the vice president.

"As Russia continues its war of aggression to Ukraine, conservatives must make it clear that Putin must stop and that he will pay," he said. The conservative movement can't tolerate apologists to Putin. There is only room for people who want to be free.

Several members of the GOP, including Trump, have expressed hesitance over US involvement in Ukraine or praised Putin for his approach in the country.

A large part of Ukraine is now saying that it is independent. I asked how smart that was. He is going to become a peacekeeper. "That's the strongest peace force, that's what I'm talking about," Trump said on the show.

Kevin McCarthy told Punchbowl News that if Republicans take back the House in the upcoming elections, they may not sign off on more aid to Ukraine.

The war is not "Putin's fault", as stated by Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar in May.

Ukraine is not our friend. Gosar stated that Russia is not our enemy. We need to address our debt issues. There is no fault of Putin.

The isolationist stance of some of the Republicans was broken by the intervention of the Vice President.

"We need to keep giving Ukraine the resources to defend themselves." The Russian economy is the most powerful in the world. We need to keep giving the generosity, compassion, and prayers of the American people until peace is restored.

The man who has distanced himself from Trump is seen as a potential candidate for the presidency.