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As reports from eastern Europe weigh heavy on the minds of Americans, the safety and sovereignty of the Ukrainian people are top priorities.

But if proposed sanctions against Russia鈥檚 aggressive actions threatening Ukraine don鈥檛 work, will the United States put American boots on the ground to help this non-NATO country?

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think so,鈥� U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) told The Dori Monson Show on Wednesday.

Fresh off a trip to Belgium with other NATO country leaders, Larsen says early sanctions are a way to 鈥渞atchet up the pressure鈥� on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After meeting with eight other bipartisan U.S. members of Congress and parliamentary leaders in Europe, Larsen told Dori and his listeners that 鈥渢his has brought a solidarity (to NATO leaders) that I haven鈥檛 seen in a long time.鈥�

“What is galvanizing other countries in this matter?,” Dori asked Larsen, who serves as a member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.

For starters, Larsen said: 鈥淧utin has demanded that NATO close its open-door policy 鈥� giving (non-NATO) countries a chance to join. He wants that closed off.鈥�

NATO membership requires unanimous approval of its other member countries; currently, France and Germany have not favored adding Ukraine 鈥� the second largest European country geographically, behind Russia.

Putin鈥檚 second demand, the congressman continued, is to 鈥渞emove U.S. forces, NATO forces 鈥� weapons and people 鈥� from any country that came into NATO after 1997. He wants them out,鈥� Larsen explained.

鈥淭hink of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania 鈥� (Putin) basically wants to roll back NATO鈥檚 borders, which gives him an opportunity to control some of these countries like the old Soviet Union used to do. That鈥檚 the concern our allies have. It鈥檚 not just about Ukraine. It鈥檚 about broader security in Europe,鈥� Larsen said. 鈥淥ur allies want to see the U.S. presence there to support them.鈥�

Before there鈥檚 any movement toward putting U.S. forces on the ground in this region, Larsen said, 鈥済ive the president (Biden) a chance to do more.鈥�

Additional coming sanctions will 鈥渞atchet up the pressure.鈥�

With these sanctions, Dori asked, 鈥渋s there any chance that Putin is going to pull out? And what does that end game look like?鈥�

鈥淭he end game is longer than two days, two weeks, two months or even two years,鈥� Larsen responded. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a longer end game. We need to be strongly supportive of an independent and sovereign Ukraine. It鈥檚 trying to become a democracy and look West. We can鈥檛 back away from that.鈥�

Listen to Dori鈥檚 entire interview with Washington state Congressman Rick Larsen:

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on 成人X站 Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.