I have heard the President repeat words that I know a lot of us have also repeated as well. We need to change Putin's calculus.

What does that tell you? He seems to be impervious to the economic harm.

It will be too little too late because this has spun out of control and Vladimir Putin will have accomplished what he wanted in eastern Ukraine.

I am not in any way, shape, or form convinced that the Europeans will ever agree to sanctions that would have any possibility of changing Vladimir Putin's calculus.

Are we recognizing that reality as we are seeing this thing spin out of control?

Part of the problem is when we heard this actually from the Prime Minister himself, they are very reluctant to ask for something they know would not be supplied.

I am coming at this from the perspective of a private sector guy who has gone through a lot of financial statement audits.

That is not significant. That is not a demonstration of resolve. That communicates hesitancy to the Russians.

your concern about the proposal to 'Finlandize' Ukraine is warranted.

I agree it is basically one-sided, so let me go to you, Secretary Nuland.

You, to me, spoke the magic words here--prevention and deterrence.

tough talk is fine, but Vladimir Putin really responds to only one thing, action.

I am just looking forward to the testimony from the witnesses.

we will not ever accept the grab by Russia--what it is doing in the Ukraine or any other country.

They should be given equipment that would help mitigate Russia's strengths in armor and aircraft.

This is just a good government piece of legislation.

I think from my standpoint it almost seems better to have completely independent OIGs for five different agencies rather than have one associated with one agency and then offload four additional agencies to that one because, again, I just…

Part of the rationale was we certainly did not want to do anything that could provoke Vladimir Putin.

I have a great deal of respect for the type of information the Inspectors General provide to Congress.

Simply put, if NATO did not exist, we would have to invent it.

I appreciate your holding this hearing.

Are we rethinking whether or not we are going to provide them the type of support they actually requested and they actually need if Vladimir Putin moves further?

So we are standing by the assurance that we basically granted by being a signatory to the Budapest memorandum to do everything we can to maintain the border integrity of Ukraine.

In the private sector, we have something called the Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) principle.

no decision or recommendation should be permitted or advanced that would in any way limit its applicability to any European country.