https://youtube.com/watch?v=twV57KIQXdE
Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken said on State of the Union this morning that Russian president Vladimir Putin is acting out of weakness in his invasion of Ukraine, and that U.S. actions against Russia are “having a clear effect” so far.
“The president has mobilized the international community in support of Ukraine to isolate Russia for its actions in Ukraine and to reassure our allies and partners,” Blinken said. The sanctions against Russia are “already exerting a cost,” he said, and, as of now, “the door is clearly open to resolve this diplomatically.”
When Candy Crowley asked if Russia acted in Ukraine because America’s perceived weakness after its actions in Syria, Blinken argued that, contrary to popular opinion, the U.S. has been projecting strength, not weakness. “I think Putin has seen the exact opposite,” he said. “Putin is not acting out of a position of strength, he’s acting out of a position of weakness,” he added.