OHIO — Amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, both of Ohio's senators and a Ohio Senate candidate condemned Russia President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize two pro-Russia regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and sent troops there.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, released a statement late Monday supporting sanctions against Russia and urged the Biden administration to take more action.
“Russia is continuing to violate the territorial integrity of Ukraine by sending additional forces into two Ukrainian territories, Luhansk and Donetsk. These are Ukrainian territories that Russia has been essentially occupying for the past eight years. Now they are adding additional troops and recognizing these two Ukrainian territories as independent, in clear violation of international law,” said Portman.
Encouraged that #Germany has recognized the national security threat posed by NordStream 2. Russia's illegal occupation of the Donbas is a clear violation of Ukrainian territory and must be met with sanctions and diplomatic condemnation. This decision by Germany is a good start.
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) February 22, 2022
Russia President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into two Russia-backed separatist territories in Ukraine, to which the United Nations Security Council condemned at a meeting Monday night, calling it a violation of international law.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, called the move "an act of naked aggression" against Ukraine.
“President Biden should swiftly begin to impose the punishing economic and financial sanctions he has prepared, including against Putin himself,” said Brown. “I have worked with my Senate colleagues to ensure the President has the tools to sanction Russia’s leaders, its banking and finance sectors, and other critical industries. Now is the time for these tools to begin to be used, to demonstrate to Putin the consequences Russia will suffer from his actions, and hopefully to avert a wider war."
President Biden and the international community should use all of the diplomatic, financial and economic tools available to forcefully address this act of aggression and ensure the security of the people of Ukraine.
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) February 22, 2022
Congressman Tim Ryan, OH-13 and Senate candidate, is urging the U.S. to stand with Ukraine.
"The United States must stand in solidarity with Ukraine by immediately imposing crippling sanctions that will be devastating to Putin’s interests. We are also working with our European allies to ensure Ukraine’s military has the equipment and resources to defend itself," Ryan said in a statement Tuesday.
Our hearts and prayers are with the innocent victims of Putin's aggression in Ukraine and the Ukrainian-American families in Ohio and across the country.
— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) February 22, 2022
We must stand in solidarity with Ukraine by making sure this tyrant and thug pays the price for his actions. pic.twitter.com/0ZbbMRzDhp
On Tuesday, the White House begun referring to Russia's moves into Ukraine an "invasion" following Putin's acknowledgement of the two territories.
The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) called it the "most dangerous situation" for the European Union in decades.
“This is a serious escalation by Russia and a flagrant violation of international law," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
President Joe Biden imposed sanctions against the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, barring "new investment, trade and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in" those areas.