WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the top Republican on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, today joined Fox News’ Your World to discuss Russia’s increasing troop presence on the Ukrainian border and the need for sanctions now against Putin and his cronies.
Click the image above to watch video of Sen. Fischer’s interview
A partial transcript of Sen. Fischer’s interview is copied below.
Charles Payne: Senator, you are actually calling for sanctions that hit Putin’s bottom line. What are the chances that will happen?
Sen. Fischer: You know, Putin has created such a destabilizing situation that really threatens European security. We haven’t seen much action on that except the fact that he’s moving more troops to the border of Ukraine. You and I spoke a few weeks ago Charles, about the importance of proactively imposing these sanctions on Russia so that they understand that there is going to be a cost for any overt action that they take, or invasion. But, we haven’t seen that happen. We are not seeing that happen from the White House. We are not seeing that happen with our Democrat colleagues. So, Republicans got together, we have a bill prepared, that would impose sanctions on Russia. Specifically, their financial institutions, the banks, on Putin and his cronies, on their assets, but importantly to stop construction on Nord Stream 2.
Charles Payne: I got to tell you, it is somewhat frustrating because we’re watching, all the Americans are watching. And this was one of the first things that was sort of promised, that we would get some bipartisanship out of Washington, D.C. It seems that these are the types of things that have emboldened folks like Vladimir Putin. Going after the oligarchs, his buddies, they have investments all over the world, particularly in the west, they buy all the big real estate in London. Are you aiming at them as well?
Sen. Fischer: Yes, definitely. His cronies need to feel the pain. He needs to feel the pain. When we are talking about preemptively taking these moves, I think that’s important. Putin understands strength and we need to portray that strength. We don’t want to see an invasion. The White House and the Democrats they are talking about post-invasion imposing sanctions, that’s after the fact. We need to show action now, to stop an invasion to bring stability back to the area.
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