WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden hit back Thursday against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, unleashing robust new sanctions, ordering the deployment of thousands of additional troops to NATO ally Germany and declaring that America would stand up to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
He also acknowledged that the invasion — and efforts to thwart Putin — will have a cost for Americans. But he sought to reassure the public that the economic pain that may come with rising energy prices will be short-lived in the U.S.
As for the Russian president, Biden said: “He’s going to test the resolve of the West to see if we stay together. And we will.”
Targeting Russia’s financial system, Biden said, the United States will block assets of large Russian banks, impose export controls aimed at the nation’s high-tech needs and sanction its business oligarchs.
The president said the U.S. also will be deploying additional forces to Germany to bolster NATO after the invasion of Ukraine, which is not a member of the defense organization. Some 7,000 additional U.S. troops will be sent.
Some U.S. lawmakers — and Ukrainian officials — called on Biden to do more.
“There is more that we can and should do,” said Sen Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, pointing to the possibility of removing Russian banks from the SWIFT international banking system and sanctioning Putin personally. “Congress and the Biden administration must not shy away from any options.”
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) joined the monthly Lihu‘e Business Association meeting Thursday morning virtually, reporting that because Congress is still on recess, she has been learning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the same way many others were.
”What I know is what you all see on MSNBC, CNN,” Hirono said. “The attack is proceeding and we are going to put in place the sanctions that we already had in place when the president said. … The NATO nations must stand together.”
Later in the morning, Hirono continued to stand behind Biden imposing clear sanctions on Russia.
“As President Biden said, America and our allies stand united in condemning in the strongest terms possible Russia’s reckless and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” Hirono said in a statement. “I have confidence in President Biden’s efforts to continue marshaling a unified and coordinated international response to Russia’s blatant violation of international law through the use of the most significant sanctions.”
Hirono offered strong opposition against the attacks.
“Russia is recklessly endangering the lives of thousands of innocent people and the free world must stand up to this authoritarian dictator and hold Putin accountable,” she said.
Hirono’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) said Russia’s invasion was uncalled for.
“Russia’s unprovoked attack against Ukraine’s national sovereignty and independence is the greatest breach of peace in Europe since World War II and a threat to democracies around the world. It cannot stand,” Schatz said in a statement.
Schatz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, commended Biden for taking “tough and appropriate actions, imposing crushing economic sanctions on Russian financial institutions and other actors, and limiting Russia’s participation in the world’s economy.”
“President Biden has taken tough and appropriate actions… Ukraine and its people have the full support of the United States and our NATO Allies,” Schatz said.
On Facebook, Gov. David Ige chose to look back to Hawai‘i’s history.
“During World War II, Hawai‘i experienced first-hand the destruction and suffering caused by bombs,” Ige said. “Now, bombs are falling in Ukraine, and the people there are experiencing unimaginable loss of life and suffering. I know the people of Hawai‘i join me in condemning this act of aggression and supporting President Biden’s actions to help the brave people of Ukraine and hold Russia accountable.”
On the House side, Rep. Ed Case also called for a “united stand against Russia, not only to defend our international rules-based order that has largely kept the peace and enabled international advancement for three generations, but to assure that Ukraine is not just one of a long list of victims of Russia and other countries and authoritarian regimes around the world.”
“The United States and its allies will stand united with the people and Government of Ukraine,” Rep. Kaiali‘i “Kai” Kahele said. “We must hold Putin accountable for the unjustified violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. I’m praying for the millions of innocent civilians caught in the crosshairs.”
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The Associated Press contributed to this report. TGI journalists Sabrina Bodon and Guthrie Scrimgeour contributed to this report with Hawai‘i delegation comments.
