Washington DC – Leading US lawmakers were quick to condemn Russia occupation of UkraineHe called on Moscow for swift sanctions against President Vladimir Putin and the elites in his inner circle.
President Joe Biden and his senior aides had pledged to impose heavy penalties on Russia if it invaded its neighbor. an apparent full-scale Russian attack Starting late Wednesday, senior lawmakers from both US major parties are calling for serious consequences for Moscow.
Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Russian leadership should be expelled from the international community.
“I am determined to ensure that the United States fulfills our responsibility to bear the maximum cost to Putin, the Russian economy, and those who enable and facilitate this violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Menendez said in a statement.
The top Republican on the same panel, Senator Jim Risch, warned Putin of “painful and quick” responses if Russian forces did not withdraw from Ukraine.
“These are not the actions of a proud nation and people, but the actions of a desperate man whose only desire is to sow chaos to make himself strong,” Risch said late Wednesday, citing Putin.
Both chambers of Congress are not scheduled to meet this week in legislators’ districts — far from Washington DC. But the Biden administration has the authority to do so. to impose sanctions on its own through the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Earlier this week, Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican, said lawmakers are working on a bill to provide additional aid to Ukraine.
“It is imperative that we continue to provide Ukraine with good intelligence as well as defensive weapons,” Graham said on Twitter on Wednesday night.
“Putin and his followers must be pursued by international law enforcement to confiscate their luxury apartments, fine art, yachts and other tangible goods that they blindly stole from the Russian people.”
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy confirms Putin’s decision attacking ukraine “A bad, panicked act of weakness”.
“Tonight, the entire post-World War II international order sits on a razor’s edge. Murphy wrote on Twitter late Wednesday that if Putin does not pay a devastating price for this violation, then our own security will soon be at risk.”
Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine after a months-long standoff when the Russian army massed troops on the Ukrainian border. The Russian leader said Moscow’s aim is to “demilitarize” Ukraine without invading it.
Explosions heard in and around cities across Ukraine through Wednesday night and Ukrainian officials said dozens were killed So far in Russian attacks.
Russia initially denied any plans to invade its neighbor and insisted that Kiev had legitimate security complaints about its deepening alliance with the West – and claiming a warranty Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO.
Numerous negotiations between Russian, European and US officials failed to reduce tensions.
On Monday, Moscow recognized The independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting government forces since 2014. Biden replied Putin’s recognition of Luhansk and Donetsk with sanctions on two Russian banks and the country’s government debt.
The President of the United States announced economic measures Against Russia on Thursday in response to the ongoing occupation.
“The time for diplomacy is over,” Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Relations Committee, said on Thursday.
McCaul said GIS News Although Ukraine is not a NATO member and therefore will not be defended by US forces, Washington has supplied the country with weapons. “Let me say that we stand strongly by the Ukrainian people,” he said.
Gregory Meeks, Democratic Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, also scolded Putin. attacking ukraine.
“I have my thoughts with the Ukrainian people, who are facing Putin’s unprovoked and clearly premeditated attack,” Meeks said on Twitter. “He alone started this war and he must end it. Until then, the United States and our allies will impose the heavy and rapid consequences of this needless loss of life.”