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U.S. lawmakers struggled to agree this week on a package of punitive sanctions to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from a possible invasion of Ukraine. VOA’s congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson reports that despite the stalled effort, there is still pressure on Capitol Hill to mount a unified U.S. response to Russia.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUS Congress Ukraine (TV)
HEADLINE: US Congress Stalled on Russia Sanctions
TEASER: Lawmakers have failed to agree on the penalties to implement if Russia invades Ukraine
PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 02/16/2022 at 9:05p
BYLINE: Katherine Gypson
PRODUCERS: Katherine Gypson,
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: BR, Reifenrath, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:03
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
[[U.S. lawmakers struggled to agree this week on a package of punitive sanctions to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from a possible invasion of Ukraine. VOA’s congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson reports that despite the stalled effort, there is still pressure on Capitol Hill to mount a unified U.S. response to Russia.]]
((NARRATOR))
U.S. senators united in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression …
((NARRATOR))
… but the effort to deliver legislation sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin for a possible invasion of Ukraine remains stalled, a source of frustration on Capitol Hill.
((Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat))
"The sanctions bill has gotten bogged down into a fundamental difference. Generally, the Democrats think you should do a sanctions bill announcing in advance what you would do if there was an invasion, and (the) Republican position has been sanctions should be imposed immediately.”
((NARRATOR))
A former Trump administration official told lawmakers Wednesday that the U.S. approach to sanctions is constrained by European allies.
((Richard Grenell, Former Acting Director of National Intelligence))
“Joe Biden and the Biden administration have decided we have to act in common concert with the Europeans on this, and therefore the Germans are really watering down our response.”
((NARRATOR))
That’s left many congressional Republicans warning that the opportunity to deter Putin may have already passed.
((Sen. Mike Rounds, Republican))
"I believe that we're way too late now. I think we have to be in a position to make sure that Mr. Putin understands that should he invade that, there will be severe consequences, not just for the people of Russia but really on the people that support him.”
((NARRATOR))
Republicans have criticized President Biden for being slow to respond to the crisis, but there’s also a sense on Capitol Hill that the U.S. must present a united front to Russia.
Sanctions under consideration include imposing severe limits on Russian banking, cutting off the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany, and increasing military aid to Ukraine.
((Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat))
“We need to show resolve as well as resilience and come together on a package that shows Putin that we are united across the aisle and that there's bipartisan support for deterrence, that we mean business, that there will be crippling economic sanctions as well as continued arms aid to Ukraine, no American troops on the ground. But Vladimir Putin seems to be getting that message, and we should in no way relent at this point on a strategy that seems to be working."
((NARRATOR))
President Biden’s speech on Ukraine Tuesday was welcomed on both sides of the aisle, as lawmakers said there were still options beyond a sanctions package.
((Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader))
"I'm hopeful that President Biden will rise to the occasion. As a bipartisan group of colleagues and I made clear in a joint statement yesterday, the president would have overwhelming bipartisan support to use his existing executive authorities for tough sanctions against Russia in the event of a conflict."
((NARRATOR))
Executive action may be the most immediate option for the U.S. response — since the U.S. Senate has just two days left in session this month.
Katherine Gypson, VOA News, Washington
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Politics, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 16, 2022 22:29 EST
BylineWashington D.C.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
