Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined T.J. Holmes on Good Morning America 3: What You Need to Know to discuss the developing situation in Ukraine amidst Russian aggression. Excerpts and the full video are below.
On Diplomacy
“I heard a pretty desperate Vladimir Putin. I thought up until yesterday there was still a fairly good shot at an off-ramp. But he blew up the off-ramp to be honest. His airing of grievances about history and everything going back even to the Budapest Memorandum, and the obligations of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia to recognize the borders of Ukraine as established in that memorandum. He just aired all those grievances and then, of course, obviously recognized the independence of those two separatist regions of Ukraine which was a violation of international law. Now I’m an eternal optimist, but it seems to me this looks pretty bleak.”
On Russia’s Further Invasion of Ukraine
“Well, it’s a violation of international law for sure. I think it looks like an invasion. This is why several weeks ago when President Biden used the [phrase] ‘minor incursion’ that choice of words is coming back to haunt us a little bit right now. I think we have to have a big discussion about what an invasion is these days given the incredible damage that can be done with cyberattacks, for example, and we know he’s engaged in a lot of those.”
On Putin’s Motivations
“This has been an ambition that he’s harbored for a long time. He’s not been bashful about it. The airing of all of those grievances yesterday certainly looks like a man wanting to re-establish the Soviet Union.”
On the American Response
“Well, there’s certainly more we could be doing for sure and I’m not advocating the use of American troops. But I do think we could have been stronger. I think we should have had some pre-emptive sanctions that recognize the fact that [Putin] is already in violation of international law. The fact is he has engaged in pretty significant cyberattacks on Ukraine. If you look at where we are today now with Germany, shutting down Nord Stream 2 or ending the prospect of certifying it at least anytime soon, had that been done earlier Vladimir Putin may have taken us all a little more seriously.”