Former US Officials Call for Release of Sanctions Against Russia. Moscow Speaks of Possible Collapse of Talks With US

These sanctions have been agreed upon in case of a new Russian attack on Ukraine.

A group of 24 former US national security officials and Russia experts urged Washington to publish measures agreed upon in case of a new Russian attack on Ukraine.

The group includes several officials who served in the administrations of Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. 

The statement was signed by several former US ambassadors, including former ambassadors to Ukraine Steven Pifer and John Herbst, former ambassadors to Russia Michael McFaul and Alexander Vershbow, as well as Daniel Fried, former US ambassador to Poland, who served as chief adviser on Eastern Europe to presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton. 

“We believe that the United States should, in close consultation with its NATO allies and Ukraine, immediately take steps to influence the Kremlin’s cost-benefit calculations before the Russian leadership makes a choice in favor of further military escalation. <...> Such a response would include a package of serious and painful sanctions that would be applied immediately if Russia attacks Ukraine. Ideally, the plan for these sanctions should be communicated to Moscow now, so that the Kremlin has a clear understanding of the scale of the economic blow it will face,” the statement says. 

Afterward, a senior Russian official said that disclosing such information could allegedly derail the talks. 

Alexei Pushkov
Chairman of the Information Policy Committee of the Federation Council of Russia

The publication of a list of anti-Russian sanctions, which former US ambassadors to Moscow are demanding Biden release, is designed to play a disruptive role in talks on security guarantees. That is their main purpose. 

The official called the possible restrictive measures Washington is prepared to use in the event of new Moscow aggression against Ukraine “hellish sanctions.” 

According to him, threats of new sanctions are “a surefire way to derail talks.” 

US President Joe Biden said that he told Russian President Vladimir Putin that steps against Ukraine would lead to sanctions and a greater US presence in Europe. 

Joe Biden
President of the United States

“I made clear to President Putin that if he takes any further steps, if he goes into Ukraine, there will be severe sanctions. We will increase our presence in Europe together with our NATO allies, and it will cost him a heavy price. 

Responding to a question about whether Russia faces sanctions if it keeps troops on the border, Biden said: “I’m not going to conduct public negotiations here, but we have made clear that he cannot — let me emphasize, cannot — move into Ukraine.” 

The US president noted that Putin agreed to “three big conferences” with senior officials to help find a solution, and said he expects progress from these talks. However, Biden made clear that this could work only if Putin reduces escalation.