(CNN) President Joe Biden and Western allies are signaling a stiffened stance in the showdown with Russia, piling on pressure designed to deter Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine in a strategy that nevertheless risks quickening a dangerous cycle of escalation. Several Republicans accused the President of showing weakness and appeasing Putin in talk show appearances on Sunday. "We're seen as weak right now ... because of President Biden." Pompeo insisted on Fox that the previous administration had won Putin's respect by being strong, the result being that he "didn't use coercive activity to try to push back on NATO." And the ex-President did allow lethal US aid to be sent to Ukraine, unlike former President Barack Obama.

Source: CNN January 24, 2022 16:57 UTC