Pelosi: ‘An assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy’

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday said “an assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy,” as concerns mount that Russia is planning an incursion that U.S. officials warn could happen “any day now.”

Asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” what Russian President Vladimir Putin should know from Pelosi about the consequences of an invasion of Ukraine, Pelosi emphasized that “there are very severe consequences to his aggression,” adding that “we are united in using them.”

“We think that an assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy,” Pelosi said.

“We understand the loss of life, the damage, the collateral damage to civilians, to military and the rest are severe if he decides to invade,” she added.

Pelosi said Putin “has to know that war is not an answer.”

“The mothers in Russia don’t like their children going into war. He’s had to experience that, forgive the experience, body bag from the moms, before,” she added.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issues a stark warning for Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin.

“We think that an assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy…There’s very severe consequences to his aggression, and we are united in using them.” https://t.co/HeERcgZpFL pic.twitter.com/37LNSPPC8b

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 13, 2022

Pelosi’s comments come as concerns are growing in the U.S. about a potential Russian incursion against Ukraine. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Friday that an invasion of Ukraine could begin “any day now.”

Pelosi last week said Congress is ready to advance “forceful” restrictions on Russia and President Vladimir Putin if Moscow invades Ukraine.

On Sunday, the Speaker said if the U.S. were not threatening to impose sanctions on Russia “it would guarantee that Putin would invade.”

–Updated at 10:13 a.m.