On Sunday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation” with host Margaret Brennan.
During the segment, Brennan asked Rubio about the impact that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would have on the United States.
Rubio responded, saying that it would begin by “destabilizing Europe,” and that there would be broader ramifications.
“But I think this would have a global impact, because we’re now all of a sudden once again living in a world in which countries and leaders can decide that something belongs to them, and they go in and take it by force,” the senator said before noting that not only do European nations have “complaints about treaties,” but that China has its eyes on Taiwan, and has border disagreements with India.
So, if we now live in a world where you can just go in and take a country because you claim it or parts of it belong to you, and you can do so militarily, well, we’ve entered a very dangerous period in human history once again. So, I think it has enormous consequences if and when that happens.
Brennan also asked about the possibility that Putin could use a relationship with China to blunt any sanctions from the West.
Rubio replied that if Ukraine is invaded, the price that Russia would pay for such a transgression should be seen by the world. Additionally, the senator said that there would need to be a united front in order to maintain the integrity of a sanctions-based punishment.
…his economy should be crippled and hurt badly. That will require unity, not just from the Europeans, but other countries around the world, but beginning with the Europeans. If they’re not going to impose those sanctions and stick with them, then … over time, he will be able to blunt it.
Will the U.S. have a combat role if Russia decides to invade Ukraine? @SenRubioPress tells @margbrennan “no.” pic.twitter.com/8cK6xAYdE6
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 6, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
BRENNAN: Sources tell CBS News that Vladimir Putin has assembled about 70 percent of the forces that he would need for a full invasion of Ukraine. He could take the capital within just two days. As many as five million refugees would be driven into surrounding countries. He could do all this within 10 to 15 days of where we are right now. What impact do you see this having on the United States?
RUBIO: Well, the impact would begin by destabilizing Europe. This is the single greatest threat Europe has faced since the 1940s. And as you’ve pointed out, the refugee surge would be one. But I think this would have a global impact, because we’re now all of a sudden once again living in a world in which countries and leaders can decide that something belongs to them, and they go in and take it by force. And there are plenty — there are multiple countries in Europe that have complaints about treaties that were signed over 100 years ago in some cases. We know how China claims — its claims on Taiwan. It has territorial disputes with India on its borders. So, if we now live in a world where you can just go in and take a country because you claim it or parts of it belong to you, and you can do so militarily, well, we’ve entered a very dangerous period in human history once again. So, I think it has enormous consequences if and when that happens.
BRENNAN: President Biden has made clear he won’t use U.S. combat troops. He will use sanctions, financial warfare. Given how Xi Jinping, the president of China, embraced Russia’s President Vladimir Putin just in the past few days, do you see this as a way that these two countries can just blunt the impact of U.S. sanctions?
RUBIO: I want it to be clear. There is no U.S. combat role in Ukraine. There isn’t going to be one. I don’t know of anyone who supports it, not even the Ukrainians. That said, I think that Vladimir Putin has to pay a high price if he does this, not just for him to pay the price, but for other countries to see the high price of doing that kind of thing and other leaders. And I think that price should be, A, his economy should be crippled and hurt badly. That will require unity, not just from the Europeans, but other countries around the world, but beginning with the Europeans. If they’re not going to impose those sanctions and stick with them, then that … over time, he will be able to blunt it.
But the other thing that’s going to happen is, the easiest part for him is going to be the invasion. The harder part is going to be the occupation. Ukrainians are not going to welcome him with roses. He’s going to have to explain to Russian mothers why their sons keep coming home injured, killed, and maimed from this occupation. If any country on Earth knows how painful and difficult it is to occupy a country that doesn’t want you there for a substantial period of time, it should be us, with our experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.