Is the latest international response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine enough to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin and end the crisis? Amid a new round of sanctions and with talks Monday between officials from Russia and Ukraine, is a ceasefire possible? In an interview with NJ Spotlight News, New Jersey’s senior senator and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez discusses “all the challenges Putin has unleashed on himself.”

“I think Putin has gravely miscalculated,” Menendez said. “He underestimated the power and resolve of the Ukrainian army and its people, who are demonstrating great courage against overwhelming odds. He’s underestimated the unity of the West as well as the success of the relentless diplomacy by the United States, which has now led to crippling sanctions on Putin, crippling sanctions on the central bank of Russia, crippling sanctions on its 10 major banks, freezing its reserves in foreign accounts like in the United States and elsewhere … I think these all speak to the miscalculation that Vladimir Putin has made.” Menendez said he is “not overly optimistic” about the Russia-Ukraine talks.