Coats Says New Sanctions Against Russia Should Be A Starting Point

Indiana Sen. Dan Coats says new sanctions the Obama administration announced Monday against Russia should be a starting point for harsher measures.  But he says he’s worried the President’s actions are “too little, too late.”

The Obama administration’s new sanctions freeze the assets and impose visa bans on some members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle while halting exports that might aid the Russian military.  The sanctions are in response to Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. 

Coats says while he’s encouraged by the latest action, he thinks a lack of what he describes as a forceful response up to now will give Russia little reason to expect punishment for further aggression.  He says he is working on legislation that would impose heavy financial and economic sanctions on Russia. 

The Indiana senator has also called for the United States to help strengthen a missile defense system in Eastern Europe.