Psaki Says Biden Didn’t Mean What He Said About Sanctions; Advisor Confirms Sanctions “Not Designed” to Disrupt Russian Energy

On 2/24/2022, after Biden told reporters “no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening” — contradicting months of messaging that sanctions were designed as a deterrent — Psaki was forced to clarify that “that’s not exactly what he meant.” Biden’s deputy national security advisor then confirmed the sanctions were “not designed to disrupt in any way the current flow of energy from Russia to the world,” effectively exempting Russia’s primary revenue source. Psaki also refused to say whether Biden would lift restrictions on American energy production amid the crisis.

”Not Exactly What He Meant”

Biden’s press conference remark that “no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening” directly contradicted weeks of administration messaging that sanctions were a deterrence strategy. A reporter confronted Psaki with the discrepancy.

“For weeks at these briefings, you said sanctions were at least in part a strategy based on deterrence — prevention,” the reporter said. “Today the president commented that no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything. Moving forward, do you expect these sanctions to prevent any further advancement or aggression?”

Psaki attempted damage control. “Later in the back-and-forth, he also said, when asked ‘if sanctions cannot stop President Putin, what penalty can?’ — and he said, ‘I didn’t say sanctions couldn’t stop him.’ Which leads me to believe that’s not exactly what he meant,” Psaki said.

Biden’s full quote was: “No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. This is going to take time. It’s not going to occur — he’s going to say, ‘Oh my God, these sanctions are coming, I’m going to stand down.’”

Sanctions Exempt Russian Energy

Biden’s deputy national security advisor made an even more revealing admission. When asked about “targeting the Russian energy industry,” the advisor was explicit.

“Our measures were not designed to disrupt in any way the current flow of energy from Russia to the world,” the advisor said. “Nothing in the short term as it relates to energy, to be clear. Our sanctions are not designed to cause any disruption to the current flow of energy from Russia to the world.”

He explained: “We’ve carved out energy payments on a time-bound basis to allow for an orderly transition of these flows away from sanctioned institutions.”

When pressed, the advisor acknowledged: “This is the one area where Russia has systemic importance in the global economy. We know it’s the second-largest natural gas producer in the world. It’s also the second-largest crude oil producer in the world.”

Won’t Lift American Energy Restrictions

Doocy asked Psaki whether Biden would consider lifting restrictions on domestic energy production. “Would he try to ensure that by lifting some of the restrictions he’s put in place on the energy industry or rethinking some projects like the Keystone Pipeline?” Doocy asked.

“First of all, the Keystone Pipeline is not flowing, so I’m not sure how that would solve anything,” Psaki said. She pointed to Biden “engaging with a range of big global suppliers, some in the Middle East” to increase supply.

When asked whether Biden had considered ordering U.S. companies to stop importing Russian oil, Psaki said: “I don’t have any prediction of that at this point."

"Give It a Month”

Biden had told reporters “let’s have a conversation in another month to see if these sanctions work.” A reporter pointed out the obvious: “Under Russia’s current assault, Ukraine clearly might not have a month or even weeks. Is it fair to say that he is conceding Ukraine to Putin?”

“There’s nothing about the president’s strategy or approach that suggests that he is conceding anything,” Psaki replied.

The advisor was asked what would trigger personal sanctions on Putin himself. “We’re not cowboys and cowgirls pressing a button to impose costs. We follow a set of principles,” the advisor said, declining to specify triggers.

”Peppermint Patty”

In a lighter moment, a reporter told Psaki that Senator Cruz had called her “Peppermint Patty” at CPAC and encouraged the audience to boo her. “Don’t tell him I like Peppermint Patty, so I’m not going to take it too offensively,” Psaki said. “Senator Cruz, I like Peppermint Patty.”

Key Takeaways

• Psaki said Biden’s remark that “no one expected the sanctions to prevent anything” was “not exactly what he meant” — contradicting months of deterrence messaging.
• Biden’s deputy NSA confirmed sanctions were “not designed to disrupt in any way the current flow of energy from Russia” — exempting Putin’s primary revenue source.
• Psaki refused to say whether Biden would lift restrictions on domestic energy production, dismissing the Keystone Pipeline as “not flowing.”
• Biden told reporters to “give it a month” to see if sanctions work; a reporter noted Ukraine might not have a month under Russian assault.
• The advisor said the administration was “not cowboys and cowgirls pressing a button” and declined to specify what would trigger personal sanctions on Putin.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. That’s not exactly what he meant.
• Our measures were not designed to disrupt in any way the current flow of energy from Russia to the world. Nothing in the short term.
• The Keystone Pipeline is not flowing, so I’m not sure how that would solve anything.
• Let’s have a conversation in a month to see if these sanctions work. Under Russia’s assault, Ukraine might not have a month.
• We’re not cowboys and cowgirls pressing a button to impose costs. We follow a set of principles.
• Don’t tell him I like Peppermint Patty. Senator Cruz, I like Peppermint Patty.

Full transcript: 1323 words transcribed via Whisper AI.