American elected officials called Tuesday, December 14 for the imposition of preventive sanctions against Russia and the sending of more weapons to Ukraine, in order to deter any attempt at Russian invasion.
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After a visit to Ukraine, the three elected officials - all former soldiers - said they were convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin was seriously considering an attack, when he is accused of massing tens of thousands of soldiers at the border.
"We must be concerned with dissuading Putin rather than provoking him,"
Democrat Seth Moulton told reporters.
"If Putin invades, I want him to know that he will have a hard time buying a soda from a vending machine in the next five minutes, not that NATO will meet to discuss the way forward in the coming weeks . "
Last week, US President Joe Biden threatened his Russian counterpart with sanctions
"like he has never seen"
in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, a country already torn since 2014 by a war between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in the East.
Mike Waltz, an elected Republican, said the United States should impose sanctions because of the destabilization.
Promising
"tough measures"
if Russia attacks
"won't be very helpful, as far as Putin's calculation is concerned
," he said.
Read also Threat of invasion in Ukraine: how far is Putin ready to go?
Mike Waltz urged the Biden administration to cut red tape and immediately deliver weapons to Ukraine, including air defense missiles.
Like Joe Biden, elected officials have ruled out the deployment of American troops.
Vladimir Poutine called on Tuesday for
“immediate”
negotiations
with NATO and the United States on guarantees to be given to Russia for its security, against a backdrop of tensions around Ukraine.