Russia might invade Ukraine (again). Here’s how Biden can intervene.

SHANNON LONGWORTH: RIGHT NOW, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE POSTED AT THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE–SEEMING TO THREATEN AN INVASION.

UKRAINE WANTS PROTECTION FROM NATO IN THE WEST.

BUT PUTIN SAYS NAH–UKRAINE BELONGS TO RUSSIA.

THE US DISAGREES, BUT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS YOU WON’T SEE AMERICAN BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE HAVE OTHER TACTICS.

LEVITSKY: “IF WE WEREN’T GOING TO GO TO WAR WITH THEM–WHICH, I THINK WOULD NOT BE IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST–WE COULD CERTAINLY PUNISH THEM–TRY TO ISOLATE THEM MORE.”

LONGWORTH: ISOLATE THEM MORE WITH SANCTIONS, THAT IS. SO WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

WELL, FIRST OFF–YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA.

THEY’VE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2014, WHEN RUSSIA PREVIOUSLY INVADED UKRAINE AND ANNEXED CRIMEA.

FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA SANCTIONED SPECIFIC RUSSIANS WITH THINGS LIKE VISA RESTRICTIONS.

AND PREVENTED BUSINESS ACTIVITY WITH CERTAIN COMPANIES AND SECTORS.

WE’VE ADDED MORE SANCTIONS SINCE THEN FOR OTHER REASONS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

NOW, THESE HAVEN’T ALWAYS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN PERSUADING RUSSIA TO COMPROMISE, BUT THEY HAVE FURTHER ISOLATED THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO MELVYN LEVITSKY–A FORMER U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER WHO’S WORKED IN THE REGION.

LEVITSKY: “RUSSIA’S ECONOMY IS ALREADY NOT VERY GOOD, AND THERE’S A LOT OF STIRRING ABOUT IT.”

LONGWORTH: IT’S NO SECRET THAT IT’S A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION AMONG SOME RUSSIANS.

LEVITSKY: “THERE HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE FAR EAST–YOU KNOW, IN VLADIVOSTOK AND COUNTRIES AND IN PLACES LIKE…WHERE MOSCOW’S HAND DOESN’T REACH AS FAR–IT’S SUCH A HUGE COUNTRY.”

LONGWORTH: AND WHILE SANCTIONS CAN ONLY GO SO FAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN DOES STILL HAVE SOME OPTIONS WITH THEM, AS HE WARNED PUTIN OVER A VIDEO CALL IN DECEMBER.

JAKE SULLIVAN: “NOW, IN TERMS OF THE SPECIFICS, WE WOULD PREFER TO COMMUNICATE THAT DIRECTLY TO THE RUSSIANS, TO NOT NEGOTIATE IN PUBLIC, TO NOT TELEGRAPH OUR PUNCHES. BUT WE ARE LAYING OUT FOR THE RUSSIANS, IN SOME DETAIL, THE TYPES OF MEASURES THAT WE HAVE IN MIND.”

LONGWORTH: SO, THE QUESTION IS–WILL PUTIN PUSH BIDEN TO FURTHER SANCTION RUSSIA?

WE’LL JUST HAVE TO SEE.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS AND MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE STRAIGHT ARROW BIAS METER.