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US General Tod Wolters acknowledged that President Biden’s strategy to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine failed during a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
Wolters made the admission in response to questions from Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin. While Gallagher did not mention Biden by name, he questioned Wolters about the effectiveness of US efforts to deter Russia’s invasion by non-military means in the months leading up to the invasion.
“As a combatant, did you feel that you were part of a multi-agency effort to stop Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine?” Gallagher asked.
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“That’s right,” Wolters replied. “Deter and discourage.”
“Would it be fair to say that deterrence failed in Ukraine?” Gallagher squeezed.
“Firstly, I would say that NATO solidarity has remained,” Wolters began, before being interrupted by Gallagher, who pressed for a direct answer to the question.
“I cannot disagree with your conclusion,” Wolters concluded.
The US commander estimates that nearly three quarters of Russia’s armed forces are dedicated to Ukraine
The exchange comes as the Biden administration continues to insist its sanctions threats against Russia were never intended to deter an invasion.
“Let’s get something straight,” Biden told a reporter who pressed him on the subject Thursday. “You recall if you covered for me from the start I didn’t say the sanctions would actually put him off. Sanctions are never a deterrent. They keep talking about it. Sanctions are never a deterrent.”
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Vice President Kamala Harris, however, had a different opinion when asked if she thought sanctions would deter Putin in February.
“Absolutely – we firmly believe – and also remember that the sanctions are not just a product of our perspective as the United States, but a shared perspective among our allies.” And the allied relationship is such that we have agreed that the deterrent effect of these sanctions still makes sense, especially because we – think you too – still sincerely hope that there is a diplomatic way out of this moment,” he said her then.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken also explained in a February interview with CNN that “the purpose of the sanctions is primarily to try to prevent Russia from going to war.”
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White House press secretary Jen Psaki also reiterated that the purpose of Biden’s sanctions is as a deterrent.
“Sanctions can be a powerful tool,” Psaki said. “They have been in many moments throughout history. And as what we see them – or how we see them starting high, as Daleep just conveyed here, in relation to the importance and severity of the sanctions announced today – yes, we want to be chilling.”