McCain: Saudis troubled Russia not Obama
Senator John McCain says it was Saudi Arabia which troubled the Russian economy not sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama against Moscow.
White House officials claimed last Tuesday that US sanctions are putting Russia’s economy “on the brink of crisis.”
Jason Furman, an Obama administration official, said Russia was facing “a very serious economic situation” which “reflects the consequences of not following a set of international rules.”
However, McCain said "we should be thanking the Saudis who have allowed the value of a barrel of oil to go to the point where it's affecting dramatically Vladimir Putin's economy".
"It has nothing to do with any action taken by the President of the United States," Arizona senator said on CNN's State of the Union aired Sunday.
On Thursday, Obama signed new Russian sanctions legislation into law, known as the Ukraine Freedom Support Act.
The legislation authorizes the US to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and "tactical troop-operated surveillance drones."
It will also impose penalties on Russia’s state-owned arms dealer Rosoboronexport and other Russian defense companies.
The US and its allies accuse Moscow of sending troops into eastern Ukraine in support of the pro-Russian forces. Russia, however, denies the accusation.
Obama also imposed sanctions on companies and individuals operating in Crimea, which integrated into the Russian Federation earlier this year.
In addition, the European Union has toughened its trade, tourism, investment and business sanctions on Crimea-based companies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said no country can “intimidate” or “isolate” Russia. He called on Russians to be prepared to “go through certain difficulties and always give an adequate response to all the threats to its sovereignty, stability and the unity of society.”