(ConservativeInsider.org) – The situation along the Ukrainian border appears to be deteriorating rather quickly. On Tuesday, February 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to enter two separatist areas in eastern Ukraine after leaders of those regions declared independence. Now he’s pushed farther into the country with reports of artillery explosions coming from several cities outside the two regions. President Joe Biden’s administration is now refusing to meet with Russia.
On Tuesday, February 22, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden would not be meeting with Putin until Russia pulls its troops from Ukraine. She said the administration isn’t “clos[ing] the door to diplomacy,” but there won’t be a diplomatic solution “unless Russia changes course.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was supposed to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergeĭ Lavrov as well, but that is no longer happening either. The US official accused Russia of making a “wholesale rejection of diplomacy.”
As Biden scrambles to figure out a way to handle Putin, Republicans are blaming the president for allowing it to ever get this far. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and GOP Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) released a statement. It criticizes the Democrat for his constant “appeasement” of Russia and “tough talk” that has never led to any actual actions that would have deterred a military conflict.
Biden has said he will continue to issue sanctions, but they don’t seem to be working so far.
Copyright 2022, ConservativeInsider.org