McCain: 'Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country'
The Arizona senator returned from a trip to Ukraine with harsh words for Vladamir Putin.
McCain: 'Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country'
"No more reset buttons" for Putin, senator says
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
center, speaks during a news conference in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday,
March 15, 2014. McCain and a team of seven other senators concluded
their visit in Kiev on Saturday with a news conference in which they
reaffirmed their support to the interim Ukrainian government. (AP
Photo/David Azia)
“No more reset buttons," McCain told Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union." “No more reset buttons, no more ‘Tell Vladimir I’ll be more flexible.’ Treat him for what he is. That does not mean re-ignition of the Cold War. But it does mean treating him in the way that we understand an individual who believes in restoring the old Russian empire.”
McCain, who has been critical of the Obama administration's response to the crisis in Crimea, said the White House should target Russia's oil exports.
"Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country,” McCain said. “It’s kleptocracy, it’s corruption. It’s a nation that’s really only dependent upon oil and gas for their economy. And so economic sanctions are important. Get some military assistance to Ukrainians, at least so they can defend themselves. Resume the missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Look at Moldova and Georgia, both of whom are occupied by Russian troops as we speak, a path toward membership in NATO.”
Speaking in Kiev with a delegation of fellow U.S. senators on Saturday,
McCain called for the United States to provide long-term military
support — both "lethal and non-lethal" equipment — to Ukraine. "[It is]
the right and decent thing to do," McCain said.
In a New York Times op-ed published Saturday, the Republican senator sharpened his criticism of the president.
"Crimea has exposed the
disturbing lack of realism that has characterized our foreign policy
under President Obama," McCain wrote. "It is this worldview, or lack of
one, that must change."
McCain added: "Crimea must be the place where President Obama
recognizes this reality and begins to restore the credibility of the
United States as a world leader."Related video:
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