Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday addressed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling President Joe Biden to “rachet the sanctions all the way up.”
McConnell shared the remarks during an address in Louisville, Kentucky, where he spoke about the Russian invasion alongside Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, for a roundtable of briefings with federal, state, and local officials on efforts to combat the opioid and substance abuse epidemic.
The Kentucky senator noted that Biden’s weak military withdrawal from Afghanistan looked like an invitation to the autocrats of the world that America is “in retreat” and it would be a good time to make a move.
“Rachet sanctions all the way up.” McConnell urged Biden, reminding, “There is no such thing as a little invasion.”
McConnell also did not hold back from criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“He yearns for empire,” the senator said, encouraging the world to unite against such acts of aggression.
McConnell further stated the invasion would only worsen already “raging” inflation in America, though it’s unclear by how much.
The comments follow the senator’s words on Tuesday that urged the “toughest possible sanctions” against Russia.
“What I hope he’s saying right now, is that from a sanctions point of view, we’re going to impose the toughest possible sanctions,” McConnell said during a Commerce Lexington event in Kentucky on Tuesday.
Regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, McConnell said during the Tuesday event, “Not now, not tomorrow, not ever.”
.@FOX56News reports: @LeaderMcConnell Speaks on Ukraine Crisis during Lexington Visit https://t.co/HuXIozLFOd
— Senator McConnell Press (@McConnellPress) February 23, 2022
In a statement released prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, McConnell noted Putin must pay a price for his decisions.
“As he escalates his war against Ukraine, Putin must be made to pay a far heavier price than he paid for his previous invasions of Georgia and Ukraine. This should begin, but not end, with devastating sanctions against the Kremlin and its enablers. The President should waste no time in using his extensive existing authorities to impose these costs,” McConnell wrote.
“Our NATO and EU allies must likewise take action to impose significant costs on Putin. Germany’s suspension of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a welcome but overdue announcement and must be turned into permanent cancellation,” he added.
The senator also called on Americans to stand by “the brave Ukrainians” in their fight for freedom.
“We must also stand by the brave Ukrainians fighting to protect their sovereignty. The United States and all friends of Ukraine must ensure a pipeline of support, including arms, flows to Ukrainians resisting Russian aggression,” McConnell added.
McConnell called for unity among the nation’s leaders in response to Russia.
“America and its partners are strongest when we act together, but the collective response to these threats must be led by Washington, by President Biden and his Administration,” he said.
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Source: Dailywire
