U.S. secretary of state rejects calls to immediately impose sanctions on Russia

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U.S. secretary of state rejects calls to immediately impose sanctions on Russia

A U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken rebuffed calls to immediately impose economic sanctions on Russia, saying that doing so would undermine the West's ability to deter potential Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Russia has gathered troops near its border with Ukraine, sparking Western concerns that it might invade. If Russia does make an incursion, the West has threatened sanctions with profound economic effects. Moscow hasn't plans to invade.

When it comes to sanctions, the goal of those sanctions is to deter Russian aggression. In an interview, Blinken told CNN that if they are triggered now, you lose the deterrent effect.

If one more Russian force entered Ukraine in an aggressive manner, that would trigger a significant response, according to Blinken.

The United Kingdom has threatened Russia with sanctions after Britain accused the Kremlin of trying to install a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the Washington Post last week he supported imposing sanctions now, a view endorsed by Republican lawmakers on Sunday.

When it comes to pushing back against Russia, we need to show strength and not be in a position of appeasement, according to Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a ally of U.S. President Joe Biden, argued for bipartisan U.S. legislation to show resolve and determination, and applied some sanctions now, but said it was best to keep the strongest sanctions in reserve.

He said that the very strongest sanctions that we use to bring Iran to the table is something we should hold out as a deterrent.

Asked if U.S. hands were tied over Ukraine because of Russia's support in talks on reining in Iran's nuclear program, Blinken told CBS News: Not in the least.