On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters that the sanctions the Biden administration is considering placing on Russia if it invades Ukraine are meant to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite claiming the day before that Putin has already “made his decision.”
“If you believe Putin has made up his mind, what leverage do you really have?” a reporter asked. “Why not put those sanctions in place now?”
“The purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence. But let’s also recognize the unique nature of the sanctions that we have outlined,” Harris said. “These are some of the greatest sanctions, if not the strongest, that we’ve ever issued. As I articulated yesterday, it is directed at institutions — in particular, financial institutions — and individuals, and it will exact absolute harm for the Russian economy and their government.”
“But if Putin has made up his mind, do you feel that this threat that has been looming is really going to deter him?” the reporter asked.
“Absolut- — we strongly believe — and remember also that the sanctions are a product not only of our perspective as the United States, but a shared perspective among our allies,” Harris claimed. “And the allied relationship is such that we have agreed that the deterrence effect of these sanctions is still a meaningful one, especially because — remember, also — we still sincerely hope that there is a diplomatic path out of this moment. And within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, altho- — open, although it is absolutely narrowing — but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit.”
After telling reporters that “Putin’s made his decision” to invade Ukraine, Kamala Harris says the threat of sanctions will “absolutely” deter him making the decision to invade. pic.twitter.com/Lgitgh7rOU
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 20, 2022
Harris’ comments come as Putin has gathered 190,000 Russian troops and separatist forces near Ukraine’s border in an apparent preparation for an invasion.
