( CNN ) -- America 's response to the most dangerous security crisis Europe has faced in decades has been all speeches and symbolism with no actions of substance . On Wednesday , President Barack Obama hosted Arseniy Yatsenyuk , the new interim Ukrainian Prime Minister , for lunch at the White House , supposedly a thumb in the eye of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a sign of America 's commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty . On Thursday , Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the U.S. will take `` very serious '' steps if Russia does not back down by Monday from its attempt to annex Crimea . But while the White House was serving lunch and the State Department was issuing stern warnings , the President was also refusing to lift a finger to actually deter Putin 's aggression . According to The Wall Street Journal , the Obama administration , `` wary of inflaming tensions with Russia , '' has refused to act on Ukraine 's emergency request for military aid , including arms and ammunition , except to send military rations . Officials in Kiev estimate that Putin has amassed 80,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border , and we are worried about `` inflaming tensions '' ? When will the administration put its might where its mouth is : When Kiev is in flames ? Or never ? As for Yatsenyuk , whose visit symbolized our solidarity , well Obama hopes you had a nice dessert , because we 're not going to give your country the weapons it needs to defend itself . Theodore Roosevelt is famous for a foreign policy he summarized as `` speak softly and carry a big stick . '' Obama 's foreign policy is closer to `` scream loudly and carry no stick . '' It 's no wonder Putin has concluded that he 's unlikely to face serious consequences for his imperial adventure . The U.S. did nothing when he invaded Georgia in 2008 . More recently , we did nothing after the Syrian regime violated the `` red line '' Obama had established regarding the use of chemical weapons there . ( Recall Kerry 's offhand reference to inspections became the pretext a day later for backing off the pledge . ) Putin does n't take the words of Obama or Kerry seriously because their words are n't serious . The speeches are gestures -- much like the President 's Wednesday luncheon -- and their relationship to action is nonexistent , as the administration 's refusal of Ukraine 's aid request makes quite clear . The fact is anything short of providing arms and intelligence to the sovereign Ukrainian government is unlikely to deter Putin . Clearly , we do not need American boots on the ground in Ukraine , a step we would both oppose . But if the U.S. wants to stop Russia 's dangerous incursion into Eastern Europe , we have to raise the cost . Not just talk about potentially raising the cost at some point in the future once Russia has swallowed half of Ukraine and stationed tens of thousands of troops there . Unless the President is willing to back up his words with military aid , he 's not serious about stopping Putin 's armed aggression . In addition , the President should immediately issue an executive order approving the export of American natural gas to 20 countries that are awaiting bureaucratic approval . The highest priority should go to approving exports to Europe , where in many places , Russia has a near-monopoly on natural gas . Furthermore , the President should issue an executive order approving 24 pending liquefied natural gas facilities that have been delayed by bureaucratic red tape . This would be a serious blow to the Russian economy that would impose a real cost on Putin 's foray into Ukraine . National emergencies justify actions that would not be taken in quiet times . A Russian invasion of Ukraine will create conditions that the President himself in his first executive order about sanctions called a national emergency . No one should doubt the seriousness of the events in Eastern Europe . Russia is threatening to forcibly take over the territory of a sovereign state . Taking over Crimea , which was historically Russian and has a substantial Russian majority , has already been described by Obama and Kerry as unacceptable and very dangerous . Russian occupation of the rest of Ukraine would be a vastly more threatening and more aggressive action . The situation calls for more than talk . If Putin discovers that once again the West will do nothing to stop his aggression , he might be reckless enough to test our resolve in Latvia , Lithuania or Estonia -- NATO members that we are bound to protect with military force . Trouble there could `` reset '' us right back to direct warfare with Russia . That would be a disaster and very , very dangerous . It 's past time for the United States to help Ukraine . Indeed , passivity is the path most likely to lead to war . The Obama administration should grant the request for military aid immediately -- before it 's too late for deterrence . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors .
Gingrich , Graham : U.S. has tried but has n't gone beyond symbolic measures . They say Obama 's dialogue with Ukrainian ##s and Kerry 's response are n't sufficient . Authors : U.S. should have accepted Ukraine 's emergency request for military aid . They say it is crucial to send a message that the U.S. should respond strongly to Ukraine .