Correspondent ‘s comment The United States has promised a “quick and heavy” response to Russia – What is Joe Biden doing?

Abroad|Correspondent ‘s comment

Washington

The United States president Joe Biden made many corners rise in January as he slammed in response to a question about how Russia would react to a possible attack.

At the time, Biden said Russia would have to pay a heavy price for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but minor intrusion is a separate issue.

This statement, and in particular the phrase “minor intrusion” (minor Incursion) confused many and promptly explained the President’s words in retrospect.

Almost exactly a month later, we are in a situation where Russia is recognized independence of the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian soldiers into the territories. This was followed by an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The United States now has to consider how robust it and its allies will put in place. Is this a “minor intrusion” that is responded to accordingly? Or is it such a blatant violation of international law that the most severe sanctions possible are justified?

President On Monday, Biden only signed a decree banning U.S. citizens from all investment in the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and the export of products and technology. The measures therefore target the separatist regions, not Russia.

He did verbally condemn Putin’s actions, but at the same time he condemned him their administration officials remindedthat Putin’s recognized separatist territories “have had Russian forces since 2014” and that “Russian forces in the Donbass region would not be a new thing.”

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“The delay means the decision isn’t quite easy.”

One reason for the cautious reaction is that the Biden administration expects, based on its intelligence, that Russia intends to invade deeper into Ukraine. You should therefore be able to tighten the capscrew if necessary.

However, the line chosen by Democrat Biden sparked criticism from Republicans who thought harsh sanctions should have been imposed immediately.

“When Putin is said to have sent troops into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions under cover of ‘peacekeepers’, now is not the time for symbolic needles that will only encourage Putin and endanger our friends in Ukraine,” Michael McCaul and Mike Rogers criticize Politico magazine by.

Also the president Barack Obaman early U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul shared on Twitter his view that an attack is now under way, Invasion.

Early Tuesday morning Finnish time The White House finally announced that it intended to impose some kind of sanctions on Russia later on Tuesday. They are agreed upon with the Allies.

There must be a balance between adequate punishment, maintaining a deterrent effect, and the unity of allies.

The delay indicates that the decision is not quite easy – despite the fact that ‘quick and heavy’ (swift and severe) has been promised for weeks.