‘Sanctions never deter’: Biden’s Answers on Sanctions Confusing, Disconcerting

President Joe Biden was asked Thursday about the additional sanctions that he and other European leaders announced and the answer… was even more confusing than everyone has come to expect.

During an event where Biden announced new sanctions on over 400 Russian entities, CBS News reporter Christina Ruffini asked the president if these actions would stop Putin.

“Sir, deterrence didn’t work. What makes you think Vladimir Putin will alter course based on the action you’ve taken today?” Ruffini asked.

“Let’s get something straight,” Biden retorted. “You remember if you covered me from the very beginning, I did not say that, in fact, the sanctions would deter him.”

“Sanctions never deter. You keep talking about that. Sanctions never deter,” Biden answered.

Ruffini again asked the question of whether the sanctions could force Putin to change course.

“That’s not what I said. You’re playing a game with me. The answer’s no,” Biden snapped back.

A follow-up question of “then why do them” might have been warranted.

Biden’s comments are at odds with statements from the administration who threatened the initial round of sanctions against Russia as a way to keep Putin from attacking in the first place. In fact, several Biden officials said that they were holding back on sanctions prior to the attack because once they issued the sanctions, there was nothing else they could do to stop him.

Now, the Biden administration and other world leaders have issued three rounds of sanctions and Putin doesn’t look ready to stop or even slow down. But, at least the president seems aware that the things he’s doing won’t really do what he wishes they would do… or something.

Content created by Conservative Daily News and some content syndicated through CDN is available for re-publication without charge under the Creative Commons license. Visit our syndication page for details and requirements.