US defends not imposing premature sanctions on Russia amid Ukraine conflict

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the country’s move to not impose premature sanctions on Russia as its border conflict with Ukraine seems to be at the brink of an invasion. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has, however, urged the United States and other western allies to curb the Russian aggression by burying the country under a pile of sanctions. Nearly no financial restrictions have been placed so far.

Also Read: US amplifies warning to Russia amid Ukraine border tensions

“When it comes to sanctions, the purpose of those sanctions is to deter Russian aggression”, Secretary of State Blinken said in a statement on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.

“So if they are triggered now, you lose the deterrent effect. All of the things that we are doing, including building up in a united way with Europe, massive consequences for Russia, is designed to factor into President Putin’s calculus and to deter and dissuade them from taking aggressive action, even as we pursue diplomacy at the same time”, Blinken added.

Meanwhile, multiple lawmakers in the United States Congress have shared contrasting views. Joni Ernst — a Republican Senator from Iowa– urged the administration of Joe Biden to impose sanctions right away. 

Earlier this month, Biden said that severe economic sanctions would be served to Russia in case the country’s forces move into Ukraine. The sanctions may include restricting financial transactions in US dollars, according to reports from CNN.

Also Read: US draws down Ukraine embassy presence as war fears mount

The United States Treasury Department levied new sanctions Thursday against four Ukrainian officials, including two current members of parliament who administration officials say are part of a Russian influence effort to set the pretext for further invasion of Ukraine, according to reports from Associated Press.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the four men were at the heart of a Kremlin effort begun in 2020 “to degrade the ability of the Ukrainian state to independently function.”