Congressman LaHood: “We need to make it difficult as possible” on the Russian economy

Posted on March 1, 2022
Darin LaHood
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap). (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Amid an invasion by Russian troops in Ukraine, one central Illinois Congressman thinks the United States can do more to help Ukraine.

Calling Russia an “existential threat’ to the rest of the world, Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) said the first move the U.S. needs to take is to send more defense weapons to Ukraine.

“What we can do is send more stinger missiles, more Javelins, more assault weapons. We ought to be thinking about how we train the Ukrainian army to fly Blackhawk helicopters. We (should) look at patriot missile systems to stop Russia from continuing to invade.”

In addition, the Dunlap Republican said the U.S. should continue to ‘ratchet down sanctions” against the Russian regime.

“Today, the Russian stock market is completely closed,” he told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “We need to make it as difficult as possible economically on them. We need to stop buying upwards of 500,000 barrels of oil that we currently do from Russia. Everything has to stop in terms of economic engagement with Russia.”

In a report over the weekend, 352 Ukrainian citizens were dead from the invasion that began on Feb. 24.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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