WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement following the announcement of additional sanctions against Russia:

“I applaud President Obama's announcement of new, tougher sanctions against Russia. Putin has failed to deescalate the crisis in Ukraine, and now he is facing the consequences. These measures go farther than any we've taken so far, and Putin should be on notice that we will continue to dial up pressure so long as Russia threatens its neighbors.

"While our European partners have also taken some additional steps, I hope they will impose even stronger penalties as we jointly push back against Russian aggression. To deal with this threat in the long run, we need to be united with Europe's democracies in taking a firm stand against Putin."

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