Dem Rep. Gottheimer: We Have to Keep the Pressure on Putin, He Only Responds to Strength

EXCERPT:

GOTTHEIMER: "Having everyone together in that room, unprecedented in some ways to come together that quickly. But you have to be deeply skeptical. You’re dealing with a KGB-trained dictator who has no problem, right standing up to anybody if it suits his interests. And so I -- the key is the next steps here. What happens next? Is there a summit? The overnight attacks just tells me exactly what — Putin does not like having his back against the wall, and he’s going to — he’s going to continue to act out. The security guarantees are essential. But remember, we were talking days ago about sanctions, which I think you have to make sure we keep that pressure on. Everyone heard President Trump said 'sanctions,' 'ceasefire.' There were certain preconditions. All those have gone to the wayside right now. And hopefully this is a good replacement. But I think we have to keep the pressure on because Putin only responds to strength. This is not a guy who responds at all to rolling out the red carpet, as we saw the other day."