Johnson, Kind Agree: U.S. Can’t Respond To Putin Alone

Two of Wisconsin’s representatives in Washington, D.C., said they hope the crisis in Ukraine can be resolved with economic and diplomatic steps, but they disagree over whether the Obama administration can be effective.

Russian troops took control of key facilities in Ukraine’s Crimean region last week, purportedly to protect Russian interests.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., says he’s glad the White House is taking a deliberative approach. He said on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The Joy Cardin Show” on Tuesday morning that he’s confident cooler heads will prevail.

“There are many forces within Russia who want to be more integrated and more responsible in the global community. They know this does not help their cause,” Kind said. “The last thing that they as a country can afford is to be economically isolated from the rest of the world, and that’s what (Putin is) really risking by doing all of this.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he also hopes Russia withdraws peacefully, but he said he isn’t confident President Obama is up to the job.

“The fact that we are economically weak; the fact that we have shown weakness in the world; that President Obama has drawn red lines in places like Syria, and did not back those things up — is very worrisome, and it’s not good for world peace or economic security,” he said.

Johnson and Kind agree the U.S. can’t go it alone in persuading Putin to withdraw from Ukraine. They say it will take the full force of the international community.