“President Putin has crossed the Crimea off his shopping list. Who will he target next? Lithuania? Latvia? The remainder of Georgia he hasn’t already seized?” asked Congressman Pittenger, who recently heard these concerns during private meetings with European leaders. “Until we apply significant economic pressure to President Putin and the cronies in his patronage system, he will continue his attempts to build a 20th Century empire in a 21st Century world.”
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CONGRESSMAN PITTENGER: WHAT’S NEXT ON PRESIDENT PUTIN’S SHOPPING LIST?
CHARLOTTE – Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09), Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism, today questioned if Russian President Vladimir Putin would attempt to conquer other sovereign nations.
“President Putin has crossed the Crimea off his shopping list. Who will he target next? Lithuania? Latvia? The remainder of Georgia he hasn’t already seized?” asked Congressman Pittenger, who recently heard these concerns during private meetings with European leaders. “Until we apply significant economic pressure to President Putin and the cronies in his patronage system, he will continue his attempts to build a 20th Century empire in a 21st Century world.”
Congressman Pittenger supports the additional sanctions announced today by President Obama but understands significant cooperation from Europe is necessary to thwart Mr. Putin’s ambitions. “Europe is walking a tightrope, fully aware of the need to resist Mr. Putin while fully aware of the damage he could do with retaliatory fuel embargoes against Europe.”
As Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism, Congressman Pittenger last year met face-to-face with leaders from across the Middle East and has been working closely with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
“Currently, I am contacting key allies to begin assessing their willingness and capability to enhance production and exports to offset Europe’s need for Russian oil and natural gas.
“If fuel producing nations will support Europe, we can apply significantly more pressure on President Putin.”
