WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, on Sunday joined NBC’s Meet the Press to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the U.S. response and the importance of securing a nuclear agreement with Iran.

On drawing a red line with Russia, Murphy said: “I think we need to make clear to the Russians that our level of commitment to the Ukrainians and our participation in this conflict is going to be proportional to the tactics that the Russians use inside of Ukraine. There is no doubt that we have dramatically stepped up the transfer of weapons to Ukraine since the Russians have begun this brutal campaign of targeting civilians. We've sent drones, we have sent new anti-tank missiles, a billion dollars of assistance in the last week. So I don't think the United States needs to draw specific red lines today. I think we just need to make clear to the Russians that our involvement in this war is going to increase if their tactics targeting civilians also increase.”

On the importance of achieving energy independence to keep Putin out of the world order, Murphy said: “He was in the world order because we allowed for our allies and the United States to be dependent on the products that he produced. So no, we should not allow Vladimir Putin back into the world order. But we should also be wise to the fact that this is the moment to make the United States, Europe, the rest of the world independent of the product that Russia makes: oil and gas. And if we don't do that, then you will ultimately be forced to keep him at the table.”

On calling Putin a war criminal, Murphy said: “I don't think you can do anything other than call Vladimir Putin a war criminal. He is. What he's doing right now as we speak – targeting children, maternity wards, schools inside Ukraine – clearly crosses a line.”

Murphy continued: “This is a moment of where we need to come together in Washington around President Biden…I’ve got a lot of Republican colleagues right now, who are using their time to criticize President Biden, to vote against Ukraine aid on the floor of the House and the Senate while President Biden is standing up there, saying and doing the right thing. So I'm proud of President Biden for drawing a moral line against Vladimir Putin.”

On the importance of securing a nuclear agreement with Iran, Murphy said: “There's no choice but to do the Iran deal…We cannot allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. That sets off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, and I don't understand why my Republican colleagues having watched what Vladimir Putin can get away with with nuclear weapons, want to hand over nuclear weapons to the Iranians.”

Click here to view the entirety of Murphy’s interview.

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