Across the board, Republicans and Democrats in both chambers of Congress say the Biden administration must act boldly and with more urgency to punish Putin and Russian oligarchs as the deadly attack in Ukraine unfolds.
President Joe Biden said the administration is imposing sanctions on four more major banks, meaning"every asset they have in America will be frozen."Shortly after President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new sanctions on Russian banks and elites -- but not on Russian President Vladimir Putin himself -- a top Senate Democrat pointedly called on him to go further.
Asked why SWIFT was not included in his announcement, Biden argued the actions the U.S. had taken Thursday were more significant, but said it was an option that remained on the table, although allies hadn't agreed on making the move. And while many Republicans have been critical of Biden's steps up to this point, the actual invasion attack has seen many joining with Democrats in calls to sideline partisan squabbling in the name of NATO unity.
Still, the statement ended on a unifying note, calling on America and its allies to"protect freedom" by working in tandem to impose harsh sanctions on Russia. Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee also released a statement early Thursday going after Putin. Earlier in the week, they had been more critical of Biden.
"Joe Biden has shown nothing but weakness and indecision," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said in a tweet Wednesday night."Now is the time to show strong purpose." "That is not the time for this rhetoric," Schumer said."Americans should be united as we were united at 9/11, as we have been united in the past."