Russian President Vladimir Putin was target of particular scorn and the lawmakers, all Republicans, called for tough sanctions against his country. They also voiced support for Ukraine, though none broached the notion of U.S. forces directly acting in response.

U.S. Rep. John Curtis, Utah’s 3rd District representative, issued a joint statement with Rep. Tom Malinowski, a New Jersey Democrat, calling for “full financial freezing sanctions and asset seizures” against the Russian oligarchs and others who have served as “enablers” of Putin. Both serve as co-chairs on the Congressional Caucus Against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy.

“Endemic corruption and theft from the Russian people fuels Putin’s repression and military aggression; it is also his greatest political vulnerability,” reads the statement. As members of the caucus “we have supported tough measures to seize the assets corrupt Russian officials hold outside of Russia and to ensure the United States is not a safe haven for their ill-gotten gains.”

U.S. Rep. Blake Moore, who represents the 1st District, said he’s “ready to work” with the administration of President Joe Biden on enacting “crippling sanctions” against Putin and his government. But he also suggested that the the Biden administration may have emboldened Putin to act.

Lee photo supplied; Romney photo by Ben Dorger, Standard-Examiner file photo

“I believe that Putin advances when he senses weakness. That is why he acted to extend Russia’s borders during the (President Barack) Obama administration and is now trying it again even more forcefully,” Moore tweeted.

He said he is praying for Ukraine “during this abhorrent, unjustified attack” and will work with European allies, in addition to U.S. officials “to support Ukrainians in their fight for freedom.”

Here’s more:

Sen. Mitt Romney: “Putin’s Ukraine invasion is the first time in 80 years that a great power has moved to conquer a sovereign nation. It is without justification, without provocation and without honor,” he said in a statement.

He faulted the “tepid response” by the United States to previous Russian incursions into Crimea and Georgia and warned against the “peril of again looking away from Putin’s tyranny.”

The United States and its allies must respond “by subjecting Putin and Russia to the harshest economic penalties, by expelling them from global institutions and by committing ourselves to the expansion and modernization of our national defense,” he said.

Sen. Mike Lee: The move into Ukraine, he tweeted, is “emboldened by Russia’s stronghold on the European oil and gas market.”

He went on, faulting policies implemented under Biden that cripple U.S. energy security, weakening the country in the face of the aggression. “President Biden’s policies leave the United States and our allies poorer and vulnerable,” Lee tweeted.

Rep. Chris Stewart: “The mistake the West has made for more than a decade is to think an autocratic bully can be a reasonable geopolitical partner. Putin doesn’t want to be part of the current international order. He wants to blow it up,” tweeted Stewart, Utah’s 2nd District U.S. representative.

The U.S. should implement tough sanctions and send arms to Ukraine. “The U.S. and allies should impose the strongest possible sanctions and export controls to cripple Russia’s ability to make war. We should also be sending arms and communication equipment to support a Ukrainian insurgency,” Stewart tweeted.

Rep. Burgess Owens: The 4th District representative called Russia’s move a violation of international law.

“America stands with Ukraine, our NATO allies and freedom. I’m praying for every man, woman and child across Ukraine tonight,” Owens tweeted late Wednesday night.