Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “thug” and a “bad, bad, bad dude.”
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement formally recognizing Putin’s latest assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and his expectations for a strong response from the U.S. and Europe.
Ukraine declared a state of emergency as more European Union nations order stiffer sanctions on Russia and penalties on Putin’s inner circle. These latest developments come amid growing signs that Russia is veering closer to a full-scale invasion with its southern neighbor.
Food and gas prices — already high due to the pandemic and supply chain issues — could spike further if the crisis escalates, as Russia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of oil.
