Partisan Lines Regarding the Russia-Ukraine Conflict Cause Inaction as Situation Worsens
A Bipartisan group of US senators arrived in Kyiv during a January trip in a show support for the nation in crisis. Source: Reuters
On Friday, February 18th, urgency surrounding the Russia-Ukraine crisis reached a fever pitch after President Biden announced that the world should expect Russia to invade Ukraine within a “number of days.” But despite desperate calls to protect Ukraine from Russian military forces, divisions between Democrats and Republicans meant the Senate adjourned for their week-long recess without passing any measures to deter an invasion.
Thus far, Republican and Democrat legislators have only been able to agree on a non-binding resolution voicing their support for an “independent and democratic Ukraine,” despite hopes they would pass economic sanctions against Russia. UNC Professor and Director for the Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies, Graeme Robertson noted that the US and its allies try to use a system of “smart sanctions” when it comes to Russia, which only aim at high profile individuals or companies. Because of the desire to leave the country’s general population out of geopolitics, and fears that sanctions could backlash on the US, lawmakers are being strategic about what aspects of the Russian economy to target.
In January, Senior Democrats released their own sanctions package — which included a provision for the US to consider all actions to prevent the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from becoming operational. The cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 project would have devastating consequences for Putin’s administration. The Democrats package also included a provision to push Russia out of the SWIFT system, which would cut Russian banks from communication with other global financial institutions. Professor Robertson stated that using SWIFT to impose sanctions, “would be devastating for the Russian economy…”
The bill also authorized President Biden to send military equipment to Ukraine forces through the 1941 Lend Lease Act. Several Democrats, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, supported the legislation, but there were some voices of dissent within their own party. Sen. Bernie Sanders argued for merely allowing President Biden to continue peaceful diplomatic talks, citing his fears that sanctions could impose unnecessary suffering. Sen. Sanders also explained that dramatic sanctions could have dire effects on future crises: “Any hope of international cooperation to address the existential threat of global climate crisis and future pandemics would suffer a major setback.”
Following failed bipartisan negotiations regarding the Senate Democrats legislation, Republicans released their own sanctions package this past week in another attempt to negotiate for congressional action against Russian military aggression. Senate Republicans took a somewhat firmer stance against Putin by mandating sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project and provided $500 million in military funding for Ukraine. The Republicans' package also doubled the funding for US military exercises in Eastern Europe. Though proactive against Putin, the Republicans plan strayed from Biden’s commitment to resolve the conflict through diplomacy and prevent US troops from going to Ukraine before an invasion took place.
Regardless of the differences within the Democrat and Republican legislators' sanction plans, one thing is clear: for what seems like the first time in years, both parties have the same goal in mind. In fact, both plans were remarkably similar in content, but unsurprisingly the Senate has turned the Ukraine response into a matter of partisan politics. Only two senators, Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Bernie Sanders vocally opposed sanctions, exemplifying that compromise could have been achieved if not for bickering between parties. If anything, the disappointing partisan response displays a disunited front to a world looking for the US to project strength in an atmosphere of doubt. With no consensus in Capitol Hill, Republicans and Democrats could be playing right into Putin’s hands.