President Joe Biden insists that “no one” believed that sanctions would deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.
ABC News’ Cecilia Vega said on Thursday, “Sanctions clearly have not been enough to deter Vladimir Putin to this point.”
She asked, “What is going to stop him? How and when does this end?”
“No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening,” Biden responded. “This is going to take time. We have to show resolve so he knows what’s coming and so the people of Russia know what he’s brought on them. That’s what this is all about. This is going to take time. It’s not going to occur [where] he’s going to say, ‘Oh my god, these sanctions are coming I’m going to stand down.'”
Watch the video below:
President Biden: "I have no idea what he's threatening. I know what he has done. No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. This is going to take time. We have to show resolve." pic.twitter.com/rkKq60CG0q
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 24, 2022
However, four days earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris said the opposite.
During a trip to Munich, Germany, for the Munich Security Conference, Harris was asked if she believed sanctions would deter an attack even if Putin had made up his mind about an invasion.
“[Absolutely]… Remember also that the sanctions are a product not only of our perspective as the United States but a shared perspective among our Allies,” she responded.
The vice president continued, “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, although it is absolutely narrowing, but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit,” Harris added.
Harris 4 days ago: the threat of sanctions will “absolutely” deter Putin making the decision to invade.pic.twitter.com/NjpwUqoj5F https://t.co/PVjWo9oOgq
— Tommy Pigott (@TommyPigott) February 24, 2022
Biden announced new sanctions against Russia after it moved forward with an invasion of Ukraine.
As CNN notes, “The new sanctions include export blocks on technology, a centerpiece of Biden’s approach that he said would severely limit Russia’s ability to advance its military and aerospace sector. He also applied sanctions on Russian banks and ‘corrupt billionaires’ and their families who are close to the Kremlin.”
“Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,” Biden said as he announced the new measures.