WASHINGTON – On CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there is “no question” the Putin regime’s continued destabilization of Ukraine meets President Obama’s threshold for imposing tougher sanctions on Russia.
“I think we should hit four banks, one or two of the energy companies, not the entire sectors but just to let Putin know that there is a price to pay for the meddling that is taking place – the intimidation of the troops – plus what we know they are doing through black ops inside the country. No question it is destabilizing the country…And yet we're doing nothing, nothing to change their behavior. The sanctions that we've put in place are nothing more than tweaks. They are not things to affect how people inside Russia feel about what is happening,” said Corker.
Obama administration officials and a panel of experts will testify tomorrow in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about U.S. policy to counter Russian intervention and support democracy and independence in Ukraine.
Last Wednesday, Senator Corker and 22 Senate Republicans introduced new legislation providing a strategic U.S. response to Russian aggression in Europe, which threatens regional security and prosperity that is critical for maintaining economic growth in the United States. The bill would strengthen NATO, impose tough sanctions to deter Russia and support non-NATO allies of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
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