Vladimir Putin is escalating his destabilization campaign in eastern Ukraine, likely motivated by President Biden’s hesitation in countering Russian aggression.

True, Biden has been president for less than a month. But consider the White House reaction to Russia’s persecution of dissident journalist Alexei Navalny. Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have at least condemned Navalny’s incarceration. But they have not taken substantive steps to impose costs upon Russia for that injustice. This weakness matters for reasons beyond even human rights. Putin’s treatment of Navalny has distinct importance for U.S. security interests, for example, in terms of deterring the use of chemical weapons.