This week, legislators from both parties came together to condemn Russia's incursion into Ukraine, describing it as an egregious assault on international law, Ukrainian sovereignty, and Eastern European stability.
Meanwhile, Republicans blamed President Biden for fueling the escalating hostilities, saying the Obama administration made mistakes in foreign policy, including withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan last August.
Speaking to reporters in Kentucky on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) argued that Russia wouldn't have been encouraged to send upwards of 150,000 troops to Ukraine "if we hadn't precipitously withdrawn from Afghanistan." House Republican leaders swiftly joined in, accusing the president of adopting an approach that would fail to dissuade Russia.
Republican leaders, including Reps. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Steve Scalise (La.) and Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), said in a statement that Biden repeatedly opted for appeasement and his tough talk on Russia was not followed by strong action.
“I want a sanctions regime from hell,” Graham said during a press briefing Tuesday in his home state.
“I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way of another,” said J.D. Vance, the “Hillbilly Elegy” author vying for a Senate seat — and Trump’s endorsement — in Ohio.
Republican leaders pointed out a number of areas in which they think the Obama administration's strategy failed, including Biden's last year decision to waive sanctions on construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which is estimated at $11 billion.
23 Jan 2022
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