Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said Congress will consider applying targeted sanctions against Russian persons and entities” in response to the country’s decision to invade Crimean Ukraine.
On Saturday, Russia’s upper chamber approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to send military troops to parts of Ukraine.
“Vladimir Putin is seizing a neighboring territory – again – so President Obama must lead a meaningful, unified response with our European allies to bring an immediate halt to these provocative Russian actions, which threaten international peace and security. The Russian government has felt free to intervene militarily in Ukraine because the United States, along with Europe, has failed to make clear there would be serious, potentially irreparable consequences to such action,” Corker said in a statement.
“The United States and our European allies should immediately bring to bear all elements of our collective economic strength to stop Russian advances in Ukraine,” Corker added. “Congress will consider targeted sanctions against Russian persons and entities that undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
