White House Feels ‘Sense of Urgency’ to Decide on Ukraine Sanctions
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Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — After deadly protests played out in Ukraine’s capital of Kiev overnight, the White House said Thursday there is no decision yet on whether the U.S. will impose sanctions against Ukraine, but added the president feels a “sense of urgency” to decide.
“Making a decision about sanctions is — can’t just be a knee-jerk reaction…It’s important for us to consider the range of consequences that could ensue from applying some sanctions,” White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said in the briefing Thursday. “There is a sense of urgency that is being felt because of the terrible violence that we saw overnight.”
“The president and his senior members of his team have been acting quickly to consider the range of options that are available, and acting with a sense of urgency because of the terrible violence that we saw overnight,” Earnest said.
Earnest would not detail a timeline for when Obama hopes to make a decision about the potential sanctions.
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