McConnell calls for ‘toughest possible sanctions’ against Russia

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday urged President Biden to impose the “toughest possible sanctions” on Russia after a top White House national security adviser said Russia’s deployment of troops into two breakaway regions of Ukraine constituted an invasion.

“Now, the president, roughly at the same time we’re meeting here, is addressing the current situation. What I hope he’s saying, what I hope he’s saying right now, is that from a sanctions point of view, we’re gonna impose the toughest possible sanctions,” McConnell said during a Commerce Lexington event in Kentucky on Tuesday. 

Biden is scheduled to provide an update on the Ukraine-Russia situation this afternoon.

Tensions ratcheted up Monday when Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine — the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic — and then sent troops into the territories. 

Biden on Monday signed an executive order barring U.S. investments, trade and financing from flowing into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and granting him the authority to impose sanctions on individuals operating in the regions.  

White House principal deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer told CNN on Tuesday that Putin’s latest move represented an invasion and indicated the Biden administration was planning more extensive sanctions in response.

McConnell also called for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that extends from Russia to Germany to be canceled completely, saying, “Not now, not tomorrow, not ever.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted certification of the pipeline earlier Tuesday.

In a statement released prior to his remarks before Commerce Lexington, the Kentucky Republican warned that Putin’s invasion into Ukraine would have severe consequences for the international community and that the scope of invasion would not end with Ukraine.

“Every indication suggests these actions will almost certainly be used as a prelude to even further aggression and an even larger invasion. If that occurs, many Ukrainians could die,” McConnell said. “The humanitarian consequences could be catastrophic. And the threat will not stop with Ukraine. All the free nations of the world will be affected if Putin’s aggression is allowed to stand unchallenged.”

European Union nations on Tuesday approved a variety of sanctions taking aim at Russian institutions and officials, The Associated Press reported.