CNN Admits Biden’s Sanctions ‘Not Enough’ to Stop Putin’s Invasion

President Biden’s weakness on the world stage is on full display again as new sanctions on Russia have failed to curb President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. And during Wednesday’s edition of The leadCNN’s Jake Tapper, a CNN host, demanded this truth. He was supported by OutFrontErin Burnett was the host, reporting from Lviv in Ukraine.

“A lot of people think that it’s not enough. With what we are seeing now, it’s just not enough to convince Putin.,” Tapper told Burnett. And she agreed, stating that “the bottom line is … it is not enough.”

Burnett did try to give the Biden administration cover by suggesting she doesn’t “think they’re trying to pretend that the individuals that they’ve sanctioned are going to stop anything. I think they were trying to send a signal that they were willing to go much farther.”

But she did admit that those targeted by the recent sanctions were not important enough to get Putin’s attention. In fact, they weren’t in the “top ten” of oligarch and you’d have to go “way, way, way, way, way down the list” to find them:

That’s what I know. There’s people who are elite and important and there are people who are incredibly wealthy and may also be elite and important. Right? Oligarchs. Jake. Of the top 10 oligarchs in Forbes, only one is sanctioned or listed by the White House.

And by the way, you’d have to go way, way, way, way, way down the list to get these individuals. There are more things you can do if this route is one that puts pressure on Putin within Russia.

Tapper then looked to former Deputy Director of National Intelligence and CNN national security analyst Beth Sanner (of the Trump administration) and openly questioned Biden’s plan to “hold back sanctions against oligarchs” because he’s spoken to people who argue, “It isn’t deterrence. This is a real time when we need to go after Putin and other Russian oligarchs..”

Sanner outlined her views in clear and unambiguous terms. “I don’t believe that any degree or amount of sanctions will make any difference or would have made any difference. That’s my perspective.”

She noted that “Putin has a $630 billion piggy bank, a rainy day fund” and “has been preparing for dealing with sanctions over many, many years.”

“[G]etting in the mindset of Putin,” she warned that rebuilding the old Soviet sphere of influence was everything to Putin, thus “no amount of sanctions is worth what his legacy and what he believes to be Russian history that he’s setting right.”

Below is the transcript. Click “expand to read:

CNN’s The lead
February 23, 2022
Eastern at 4:29 p.m.

JAKE TAPPER : Erin, I’ve written about the oligarchs that are currently under U.S. sanctions. A lot of people think that it’s not enough. With what we are seeing, it’s not enough for Putin to be dissuaded. However, what information can you provide about those who were impacted by the sanctions?

ERIN BURNETT – Right. Jake, it’s clear that you are 100% correct. This isn’t enough. However, the U.S. government understands that. It doesn’t seem that they are trying to convince anyone that those they have sanctioned will do anything. It seems they wanted to show that they are willing to take things further.

The three people sanctioned were a deputy head of staff to Putin and the head FSB, an internal security agency, and the head a bank. Two of those men’s sons also got the sanction. You also know that they did not sanction any other family members or a wider list of oligarchs.

That’s what I know. There’s people who are elite and important and there are people who are incredibly wealthy and may also be elite and important. Right? Oligarchs. Jake. Of the top 10 oligarchs in Forbes, only one is sanctioned or listed by the White House.

And by the way, you’d have to go way, way, way, way, way down the list to get these individuals. If you believe this is the path to put pressure on Putin in Russia, then there are many other things that can be done.

TAPPER: Beth. Does it make sense for you to keep sanctions off oligarchs in the same way as the Biden does right now? She said she didn’t want them to use all their ammunition. They wish to provide Putin with an opportunity to step down. I’ve heard other people argue, ‘really, this is not a deterrence at all. We really need to hit Putin and the Russian oligarchs where they live.’

BETH SANNER, former deputy director of National Intelligence: I do not believe any amount or degree of sanctions can make any difference. This is my view.

Putin owns a $630 million piggy bank. This is a reserve fund for rainy days. Putin has been working for years to prepare himself for the sanctions. Russia is subject to a huge number of sanctions. Putin is convinced that any amount of sanctions are not worth his legacy or the Russian history he thinks he has set right.

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