Psaki said that the approval of the US Senate sanctions against Russia is not essential for the White House
Jen Psaki. Photo: Cheriss May / Reuters
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing that the approval by the Senate of the US Congress of a package of anti-Russian sanctions in the aggravation of the crisis in Ukraine does not play a fundamental role for the country’s administration, TASS reports.
Journalists asked Psaki what significance the Senate’s support for the prepared sanctions against Russia has for the White House. The White House press secretary was reminded that the senators did not agree on the initiative this week and dispersed. Psaki appreciated the role of the Senate in imposing sanctions against Russia and said that its approval is not essential.
“We are in close contact with them. But it is not essential for us to impose sanctions, is it? This is not required,” she stressed.
The representative of the White House explained that the US administration does not need “actions from Congress” to introduce measures against Russia, since it is able to do it on its own.
“We have prepared a devastating package of economic sanctions that will have a huge impact on the Russian economy,” Psaki warned.
On February 1, it was reported that the Senate of the US Congress may agree on sanctions against Russia this week. It is noted that legislators cannot come to a consensus on whether restrictive measures should be introduced in a preventive manner.
