The tactic of President Barack Obama to resolve the crisis in Ukraine through diplomatic avenues with Russian President Vladimir Putin has "failed miserably," charged retired Gen. Jack Keane.
"We are almost three weeks into this crisis, and the fact of the matter is, the policy of the United States has been to attempt to de-escalate it and talk Putin down. And the truth is, that has failed miserably," Keane, a retired four-star Army general, told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Monday.
Obama's policy put the United States in a position where its role was a "contributor" rather than a leader, Keane said, adding that approach "emboldens our adversaries and our enemies."
He called U.S. responses to events in Egypt, Syria, Libya, and Iran a pattern that is being followed with Putin, as well.
Ukraine faces an uncertain future after a referendum in Crimea on Sunday to join Russia. As troops began to expand from Crimea to other parts of Ukraine, Obama announced Monday the United States was imposing sanctions against Russia, extending them to include certain Russian officials.
Obama also announced the United States would continue to work with European partners, and warned Russia that "further provocations will achieve nothing, except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world."
Obama should impose "robust sanctions" and deny "Russia access to U.S. banking credit and capital," Keane said, adding that European countries should be following that policy, as well."
Keane also suggested moving NATO troops from central European countries to their borders so that "Russia clearly understands that this aggression is not going any further."
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