UN panel to confront Russia as US considers vote on the ‘mother of all’ sanctions.
The US ambassador to the United Nations said the Security Council would confront Russia over its military threat against Ukraine as two senators predicted a vote as soon as this week on the “mother of all sanctions” against the Kremlin.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the Security Council on Monday would press Russia on its massive troop buildup along Ukraine’s border and fears that an invasion is imminent.
“They know that they cannot block the meeting and I expect that, knowing what we’re dealing with, that they will make an attempt,” Thomas-Greenfield said on ABC News’ “This Week,” noting Russia’s veto power as one of the council’s permanent members.
“But the Security Council is unified, our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves. We’re going to go into the room prepared to listen to them, but we’re not going to be distracted by their propaganda and we’re going to be prepared to respond to any disinformation that they attempt to spread during this meeting,” she said.
The US has warned that an attack on Ukraine would spark “severe” economic consequences for Russia but there has been disagreement about pre-emptive sanctions.
Those divisions may have been resolved as Sen. Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, floated the idea that some penalties may be imposed immediately to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There are some sanctions that really could take place up front because of what Russia’s already done — cyberattacks on Ukraine, false-flag operations, the efforts to undermine the Ukrainian government internally,” Menendez (D-NJ) said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
In the event of an invasion, Menendez said the Kremlin would face “the mother of all sanctions” targeting Russian banks to cripple the country’s economy.
At the same time, US would step up supplying Ukraine with lethal aid.
”These are sanctions beyond any that we have ever levied before,” Menendez said.
Sen. James Risch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said a bipartisan group of senators are prepared to vote on the measures to deter Putin.
He said he didn’t think the Russian leader has made up his mind on invading Ukraine but warned the US must show strength and unity in the face of the threat.
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