Orange County

Sen. Rick Scott says US needs to stand up to Putin after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

ORLANDO, Fla. — CPAC, the largest gathering of conservatives in the country, entered Day Three on Saturday in Orlando.

WATCH: DeSantis tiptoes around Trump and Putin at CPAC

Channel 9 political reporter Christopher Heath has been there since Thursday, as the attention of the nation has switched from Washington D.C. to the crisis in Ukraine.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

On Friday, Channel 9 spoke with Sen. Marco Rubio, asking him about Vladimir Putin’s plans in Ukraine. Rubio said Putin does not want to recreate the Soviet empire, but rather the Russian empire.

WATCH: Sen. Rubio details Putin’s endgame as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues

Channel 9 also spoke with Sen. Rick Scott about what more can be done to help stop Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.

Scott has called for even harsher sanctions on the Russian government, including continued pressure by the U.S. to remove Russia from the SWIFT banking system, although that will require international cooperation.

Scott also echoed the comments from other members of Congress saying that it is imperative that the U.S. stand up to Putin, not just to prevent future aggression, but to also send a message to other countries considering invading neighboring states.

READ: 9 things to do this weekend: I-4 Express to open, Orlando Taco Festival & more

Former president Donald Trump also spoke Saturday at CPAC in Orlando.

Trump is the favorite to win the straw poll Sunday for CPAC’s nomination for president in 2024.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.