Sunday shows – Ukraine crisis dominates

by The Hill staff - 02/20/22 11:29 AM ET

Heightened concerns of a Russian invasion of Ukraine dominated the Sunday morning political interview shows.

Top Biden administration officials discussed the latest developments, including the extension of joint military drills in the region between Russia and Belarus.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

Pentagon chief: ‘You could see a significant amount of combat power move very quickly to take Kyiv’

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday said Ukraine may witness “a significant amount of combat power move very quickly to take Kyiv” if Russia invades Ukraine.

Austin, during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” said the international community should “look at what’s on the other side of the Ukrainian border” to discern the type of force Russia would use in the event of a military incursion against Ukraine.

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Austin on potential Russian invasion into Ukraine: ‘I don’t believe it’s a bluff’

By CAROLINE VAKIL

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he doesn’t think Russian President Vladimir Putin is bluffing.

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Russia has ‘diplomatic options left on the table,’ Kirby says

By JOSEPH CHOI

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby on Sunday said that Russia still has “diplomatic options left on the table” amid heightened fears that Moscow will invade Ukraine.

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Blinken: Putin is ‘moving forward’ with plan to invade Ukraine

By JOSEPH CHOI

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is moving forward with plans of invading Ukraine, echoing President Biden’s warnings last week.

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Blinken: Extended military exercises with Russia, Belarus raise concerns of Russian invasion

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said an extension of joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus is making him more concerned that Russia will move ahead with an invasion of Ukraine.

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Blinken defends not placing more sanctions on Russia ahead of possible Ukraine invasion

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday defended the Biden’s administration’s decision not to place more sanctions on Russia ahead of a possible incursion by Moscow against Ukraine.

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US ambassador says it would be ‘disastrous’ for Russia to invade Ukraine

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Kristina Kvien on Sunday said a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be “disastrous,” pointing to potential casualties on both sides and “devastating sanctions” on Moscow.

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NATO chief: ‘Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine’

By MYCHAEL SCHNELL

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday said “Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine,” pointing to Moscow’s troop buildup on the Ukrainian border and the continuation of military exercises in the region.

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Cruz: ‘Joe Biden becoming president is the best thing that ever happened, tragically, for Vladimir Putin’

By JOSEPH CHOI

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blasted President Biden on Sunday for what he described as his enabling of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, saying Biden’s presidency was the “best thing” that had happened for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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John Bolton: Putin has ‘incentive’ to drag out Ukraine crisis

By BRAD DRESS

Former national security adviser John Bolton said Russian President Vladimir Putin could be dragging out the Ukraine crisis in a campaign of “classic brinkmanship” and warned the European leader could win control of the country without sparking a large-scale conflict or invasion.

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