Risch, Inhofe, McCaul, Rogers Urge Administration to Strongly Push Back on Russian Aggression and Increase Deterrence in Europe

Risch, Inhofe, McCaul, Rogers Urge Administration to Strongly Push Back on Russian Aggression and Increase Deterrence in Europe

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement following talks between NATO and Russia on the situation in Ukraine:

"So far, the Biden Administration's strategy for Russia has been nothing more than a campaign of appeasement - much to the dismay of our allies. The Biden Administration has yet to impose a single meaningful sanction against Russia and paved the way for the completion of Nord Stream 2, a malign geopolitical project run by a Putin crony. Meanwhile, Putin has continued to stoke instability in Eastern Europe by illegally occupying Crimea, providing cover and supplies to Russia-backed separatists in Donbas, continuing cyber-attacks against Kyiv, ordering an ongoing assassination campaign throughout Europe, and weaponizing migration and energy.

"The world needs the Biden Administration to do what they should have done months ago: demonstrate that deterrence comes from strength and that to support Ukraine's sovereignty you must provide tangible support to its defense and interests. We should impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 now and immediately provide additional lethal aid to Ukraine, including anti-air and anti-ship weapon systems, as well as reinforce the Eastern flank of NATO. Additionally, it would be a mistake by this administration to incentivize Putin's bad behavior with front-loaded unilateral capitulations like a missile deployment moratorium or a reduction in exercises.

"We urge you, Mr. President, to steel your resolve and back our allies and partners in Eastern Europe before Russia invades, not after."

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