Senator Bob Corker, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, today called on President Obama to lead an immediate international effort to halt Russian military intervention in Ukraine, including targeted sanctions. Russian actions violate commitments made to ensure Ukraine's territorial integrity under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and when the 1997 Friendship Treaty was signed.
“Vladimir Putin is seizing a neighboring territory - again - so President Obama must lead a meaningful, unified response with our European allies to bring an immediate halt to these provocative Russian actions, which threaten international peace and security. The Russian government has felt free to intervene militarily in Ukraine because the United States, along with Europe, has failed to make clear there would be serious, potentially irreparable consequences to such action,” said Senator Corker.
“The United States and our European allies should immediately bring to bear all elements of our collective economic strength to stop Russian advances in Ukraine. Congress will consider targeted sanctions against Russian persons and entities that undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
In a letter to President Obama yesterday, Senator Corker joined other members of the Foreign Relations Committee to express support for U.S. assistance in Ukraine and warn of Russian intervention.