Former President Barack Obama is demanding that all Americans support his former Vice President Joe Biden in imposing sanctions against Russia, even if our economy suffers from it.

“Every American, regardless of party, should support President Biden’s efforts, in coordination with our closest allies, to impose hard-hitting sanctions on Russia,” Obama said, praising Biden’s sanctions as “a real price on Russia’s autocratic elites.”

Root reported that Obama went on to call on Americans to accept the “economic consequences” that may come from these sanctions.

“There may be some economic consequences to such sanctions, given Russia’s significant role in world energy markets,” he stated. “But that’s a price we should be willing to pay to take a stand on the side of freedom.”

Obama then said that Americans need to think about the freedom of people in places like Ukraine.

“The consequences of Russia’s reckless actions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders,” he said, warning of the “forces of division and authoritarianism” and describing Putin’s actions as a “brazen attack.”

“People of conscience around the world need to loudly and clearly condemn Russia’s actions and offer support for the Ukrainian people,” Obama continued, concluding that he and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, “will be praying for the courageous people of Ukraine, for Russian citizens who have bravely declared their opposition to these attacks, and for all those who will bear the cost of a senseless war.”

Last night, Russia launched a brazen attack on the people of Ukraine, in violation of international law and basic principles of human decency. Here’s my statement on what it means, and what should happen next. pic.twitter.com/Wa0C8XGwvK

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 24, 2022

Former President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying earlier this week that “this all happened because of a rigged election.”

CBS News reported that Trump described the situation as a “terrible thing,” but said Putin “wanted to do something and negotiate and it just got worse and worse.”

“And then he saw the weakness,” he said. “And you know it really started, I think with the weakness in Afghanistan.”

This is an apparent reference to President Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan last summer. Trump also said this week that Putin is “pretty smart” for “taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions.”

Former President George W. Bush gave his thoughts on the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well.

“Russia’s attack on Ukraine constitutes the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II,” Bush said. “I join the international community in condemning Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.”

“The American government and people must stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as they seek freedom and the right to choose their own future,” he added. “We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses.”