As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy wants to call it what it is: a war.
Even though the White House is avoiding the words "war" and "invasion," Murphy told Yahoo News, "By any conventional definition of war, there is war happening between Ukraine and Russia. And it’s been occurring essentially since the invasion of Crimea."
During a press briefing on Thursday, President Barack Obama was asked if he considered Russia's actions an invasion. He instead described them as "a continuation of what's been taking place for months now."
Murphy, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is chair of the Subcommittee on European Affairs, has used stronger language in recent days:
Days away from totally losing control of E Ukraine, Putin drops pretenses, takes steps toward conventional invasion.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 22, 2014
Important to remember that Putin's boldest steps are always at moments of weakness - shows of panic not strength.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 22, 2014
Reporter just asked me if Ukraine was technically "at war" w Russia. Easy answer. #yes
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 28, 2014
State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. is not concerned about what the conflict is called. "It’s a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty," she said in a press briefing Thursday. "It is an issue that regardless of what it’s called, Russia’s actions need to stop. There’s not a legal – there’s no new set of obligations based on that kind of terminology. So we’re just more focused on what they’re doing and what we’re going to do about it."
In light of these escalations, Ukraine's prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced his country would "restore its aspirations to become a NATO member."
President Obama said Thursday that although the U.S. does not have treaty obligations with Ukraine, the nations do "stand shoulder to shoulder," but the U.S. is not taking military action against Russia.