Updated at 7:46 p.m.
Vermont’s congressional delegation on Thursday condemned Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, for invading Ukraine and igniting war in Europe.
“The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin is based on his twisted interpretation of world history and current affairs,” U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said in a written statement.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called Putin’s actions a “blatant violation of international law and of basic human decency,” with the potential to “kill thousands and displace millions,” as well as “plunge Europe into long-term economic and political instability.”
The third member of the delegation, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the invasion “a catastrophe” that would “result in the loss of many innocent lives.”
At an unrelated press conference Thursday afternoon in Burlington, Leahy took shots at former President Donald Trump for his recent comments referring to Putin’s moves as “genius” and “very savvy.” Leahy said Trump’s comments “sent a terrible, terrible signal to our allies around the world.”
“To think that a dictator who’s become a multi, multi, multibillionaire by stealing and by corruption and by empowering the people around him, somebody who has had those who dared to stand up to him either poisoned or jailed — you don’t call him a genius,” Leahy said. “Call him what he is. He is a man who is so taken with himself and his failed ambitions he’s ready to disrupt the whole Western world. He is wrong.”
Late Wednesday night, Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, rolling through cities, towns and villages on their way to the Kyiv capital region. By Thursday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian troops were attempting to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant, according to The Associated Press.
Putin’s plans had been coming into focus in recent weeks and months. Two days ago, President Joe Biden announced economic sanctions against Russia in response to “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Leahy, Welch and Sanders backed those sanctions in hopes of kneecapping Russia’s economic and military strength and, ultimately, de-escalating the conflict to preserve Ukraine’s democratic sovereignty.
That proved insufficient, as Welch said in a written statement Thursday.
“Vladimir Putin made the unilateral decision to start a premeditated war with Ukraine, which will be disastrous for the Ukrainian people and for peace and stability throughout the world,” Welch said.
Leahy said that Russia “now stands alone as an enemy to regional peace and stability,” adding that he would work with Biden to support Ukraine, eastern European allies and “help the innocent people caught in the middle of this needless calamity.”
Welch, too, called for “punitive and long-lasting sanctions on Putin and the Russian government.”
But at Thursday’s news conference, Leahy said that those sanctions would prove effective only if America’s allies are united in them, too. Sanders also called for severe sanctions not only against Putin, but also “his fellow oligarchs.”
“At a time when thousands may die as a result of his war, Putin, one of the richest people in the world, should not be allowed to enjoy the billions he stole from the Russian people,” Sanders said.
As Senate President Pro Tempore, Leahy is third in line to the presidency, behind Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and has been receiving multiple briefings per day on the conflict. He told reporters that while the U.S. is not sending soldiers into Ukraine at this point, American troops have moved into Eastern European nations to support the nation’s allies.
He also warned of the potential for Russia to direct cyberattacks against the U.S.
“I think the American people have to understand this is one of the greatest crises we’ve faced in decades,” he said.
All three members of the delegation stressed the importance of providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees. Leahy said the U.S. should prepare to accept refugees fleeing the conflict.
“If America ever starts closing our borders to immigrants, especially those fleeing oppression, then we’re not the great country we should be,” he said.
Jack Lyons contributed to this report.
