By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked partisan squabbling within the U.S. Congress. Republicans panned Democratic President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis on Thursday and demanded that he “change his course”.

Some Republicans from the Senate and House of Representatives indicted Biden for not deterring Russian President Vladimir Putin’s sending of forces to Ukraine. They called upon the U.S. to adopt a firmer position in this largest European conflict since World War Two.

In a tweet on Thursday, Representative Brian Mast said, “There is no doubt that weakness leads into war.” Putin said once that Russia’s collapse of Soviet Empire was its ‘greatest geopolitical tragedy’ in the 20th century. America’s greatest geopolitical disaster may have been President Biden.

Following months of Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s border, there was frantic diplomacy as well as sanctions by the United States and NATO. However, they failed to stop the incursion. Biden is scheduled to address the nation at 11:30 EST (1730 GMT).

“It’s been almost 12 hours since Vladimir Putin declared war against Ukraine, and we haven’t received any response from Biden except a Zoom phone call. Where’s Biden? Biden is the leader for the free world. “It’s time for us to act like it,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez said on Twitter (NYSE:).

Biden met with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, as Wednesday’s invasion started late on Wednesday. On Thursday, he convened his National Security Council, which he then met with counterparts from his Group of Seven allies, to discuss more severe response options.

“The president needs to change his course, or our deterrent position will continue its collapse, chaos and ultimately no one will believe America’s promises nor fear America’s strength,” stated Representative Mike Gallagher of the House Armed Services Committee.

Trump was the Republican Party’s most influential voice even after his term ends. He had previously threatened to withdraw from NATO in four years of service, calling it “obsolete”. Trump withdrew America from all international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord. He also pulled out of a pact where Iran had been restricted in its uranium enrichment. This was a potential pathway to nuclear weapons, and is currently being renegotiated.

Trump expressed his admiration of Putin’s actions that led up to invasion and called them “genius”, smart, and pretty savvy.

ELECTIONS SLOOMING

While congressional Republicans responded by blaming Biden and calling for more sanctions against the U.S. in Ukraine, they echoed the sentiments of Republican voters as the lawmakers approached the Nov.8 midterm elections which will determine Congress’ power balance ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday and Wednesday found that only 34% Americans, including just 12% Republicans, approved of Biden’s handling of the crisis during the lead-up to the invasion.

25% of Republicans polled believed that Biden was the main culprit in the conflict. 46% thought Putin was. A majority of respondents were unsure as to who was responsible.

As a senator from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mitt Romney offered more criticism. This included the blames for the U.S. response to Russia by Presidents Barack Obama and Trump.

“Putin’s impunity predicably follows his past horrors in Georgia, Crimea, and our lackluster efforts to a unilateral’reset’ as well as the blindness of America First. Romney made a statement that the ’80s called and they didn’t respond.”

Senator Dan Sullivan was a member the Senate Armed Services Committee and warned that Putin’s actions have changed the international landscape for Americans as well as their Western allies.

“We need to recognize the reality that we will be living in an era of authoritarian violence for many years. The Alaska Republican stated that we must face this challenge with confidence and strategic resolve.