Ted Cruz: I Don't Agree with Rand Paul on Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not fear retribution for his actions in Ukraine because President Barack Obama has shown weakness in his foreign policy, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday.

"Their policy has to been to alienate our friends and coddle and appease our enemies," said Cruz, coming off a successful Conservative Political Action Conference appearance this past weekend to speak with ABC "This Week" correspondent Jon Karl.

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The tea party favorite came in second behind Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in the CPAC's straw poll of 2016 potential presidential race candidates over the weekend. But he's still a star attraction at the event, especially compared to a year ago, when relatively few had heard of the freshman senator, ABC reported.

All that changed by this year, after Cruz' Senate floor filibusters against Obamacare and strong conservative views on the national debt.

Cruz said Sunday that in other critical situations, such as the terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya and Obama's "red line" in Syria, the president has shown weakness and now people like Putin do not think the United States will take action when other leaders act aggressively.

Cruz, who favors sanctions over military action when it comes to dealing with the Ukranian situation, pointed out that "when Mitt Romney talked about Putin expanding his sphere of experience, [then-Sen. Barack] Obama mocked him."

"Putin is a KGB thug," said Cruz. "The president should have stood unapologetically for freedom. When the United States doesn't stand for freedom, tyrants notice."

Paul has commented that some people are still "stuck in the Cold War" era when it comes to dealing with Russia. While Cruz says he's a big fan and good friend of Paul's, "I don't agree with him on foreign policy."

Cruz isn't backing down from his other fights, however. In his CPAC speech, Cruz vowed that Republicans "will repeal every single word of Obamacare," a threat that Karl told him may be difficult as long as Obama is in office.

The Texan said that he does believe that Obamacare will be eliminated, and Democrats will help.

"If there's one thing that unifies politicians of both parties, it is their top priority is preserving their own hides," said Cruz, who believes Congressional Democrats may turn their backs on Obamacare so they can win their upcoming elections.

"It is the most unpopular law in the country," Cruz said. "Millions of people have lost their jobs, their healthcare, and forced into part-time work."

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