Vice president Kamala Harris fumbled on the world stage yet again. On Sunday, Harris claimed that sanctions against Russia would surely deter President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine despite the fact President Biden already said he’s made up his mind.
Fox News reports:
“As I articulated yesterday, it is directed at institutions — in particular, financial institutions — and individuals, and it will exact absolute harm for the Russian economy and their government,” Harris said.
Her comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for the U.S. and allies to impose sanctions against Russia now — before a potential invasion of Ukraine happens.
“We don’t need your sanctions after the bombardment will happen, and after our country will be fired at or after we will have no borders or after we will have no economy or parts of our country will be occupied,” Zelenskyy said at the security conference. “Why would we need those sanctions then?”
Harris was asked if she believed the looming threat of sanctions would deter Putin, despite saying the president has already made a decision on Ukraine.
“Absolut- — we strongly believe — and remember also that the sanctions are a product not only of our perspective as the United States but a shared perspective among our Allies. 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,” Harris said, according to the White House.
