Bay Area legislators back sanctions on Russia after Ukraine invasion

With the Russian Federation launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Rep. Anna Eshoo on Thursday denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin and backed the new package of sanctions that the United States government and its allies have announced against Russia.

Eshoo, a Democrat, said in a statement that she is “praying for the brave people of Ukraine as their country suffers Russia’s military assault.”

“We know Vladimir Putin is an enemy of democracy and he has revealed his purposeful pursuit of his authoritarian ambitions,” Eshoo said. “I fully support the U.S. and our allies to inflict tough sanctions to make clear to Mr. Putin and autocrats throughout the world that attacks on free and sovereign countries will be met with severe consequences.”

Eshoo issued the statement on Thursday morning as Russian soldiers were battling Ukrainian troops throughout Ukraine and closing on the capital city of Kyiv and as U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled a new package of sanctions against Russia. These include freezing Russian assets in the United States, imposing sanctions on four major Russian banks and cutting off exports of technology to Russia. The United States is also expanding the list of Russian elites and their families on the sanctions list.

“These are people who personally gain from the Kremlin’s policies and they should share in the pain,” Biden said in a Thursday morning address.

Eshoo was one of several Bay Area legislators to denounce Putin’s actions on Thursday. Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat whose district is in the east bay, called Putin “a ruthless dictator whose actions are a threat to democracies everywhere.”

Swalwell called for the U.S. military to give resources to Ukrainians to assist in their defense and for the intelligence community to provide Ukraine with actionable intelligence. He also called for the U.S. to lead a global sanctions regime that “stops the flow of Russia’s money, oil and travelers.”

“Most importantly, we must unite the American people at home, even as former President Trump roots for Russia. I hope every American recognizes the privilege of living in a free country. What is our democracy worth if we can’t stand against the invasion of another’s?”

State Assembly member Kevin Mullin, a Democrat who is vying for Rep. Jackie Speier’s seat in Congress, also said in a statement that Putin’s aggression in Ukraine demand “severe sanctions.”

“The rise of authoritarianism is a growing threat to democracy and freedom across the globe,” Mullin said in a statement. “This latest example has no doubt been exacerbated and even encouraged by the radical behavior of other authoritarian figures both foreign and domestic.

“I have full faith in the Biden administration’s ability to respond swiftly, in concert with our G7 and European Union allies, to Putin’s unprovoked aggression.”

Assembly member Marc Berman, who represents the 24th District in the Midpeninsula called Putin’s decision’s to invade “an assault on freedom everywhere.”

“The international response to Putin’s aggression must be united, swift, and severe,” Berman said in a statement.

State Senator Josh Becker, who represents the 13th District, called the Russian attach “an overreach by Putin that he will regret.”

“The rise in autocracy around the world is greatly troubling, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the latest manifestation of this,” he said in an email. “I fully support severe sanctions announced by the U.S. and our allies. We must strengthen democracy here and abroad. Ukrainian people are brave and not giving in.”