WASHINGTON – With NATO reporting Russian weaponry continues to flow into Ukraine after the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. must take “decisive action with or without Europe” to expand existing sanctions against significant Russian entities in key sectors of the Russian economy.
"Since the Malaysia Airlines tragedy, Russia continues to send weapons into Ukraine and build up troops on the border so the U.S. must take decisive action now with or without Europe,” said Corker. “The European Union has the power to play an influential role in addressing this crisis, and it is disappointing they have been unwilling to do so. Unless the West imposes greater costs on Putin, Russia will continue its destructive acts in the region.”
In April, Senator Corker introduced legislation as a strategic response to Russian aggression in Europe. Specifically the bill would strengthen the NATO alliance, impose a series of tough sanctions for specific Russian actions, including against Rosneft, Novatek, Gazprombank and VEB, and authorize defensive military assistance and support for non-NATO allies of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
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