A high-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said President Obama's “reset” policy with Russia hasn't succeeded.
“That's right,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told MSNBC when asked if the reset hadn't worked. “I think that's because of calculations that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's made internally about his own domestic politics. I think it's partly about the leadership in Russia feeling that their diminished role in the world pushes them to act more aggressively."
The clip of Coons facing off with Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) ahead of the president's speech Tuesday at the United Nations was immediately highlighted by the Republican National Committee.
Despite Russia dragging its feet in approving sanctions against Iran, Coons said, “I do think this president and the secretary of State and vice president have been effective and engaged in pushing back and in building a multilateral coalition, in engaging in areas of the world where we've been able to lead.”
For more on Coons's comments, click here.
— This post was updated at 3:24 p.m. to clarify the senator's remarks.
