Ayotte: 'We Can't Trust Putin'

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) said on Fox News Wednesday that the U.S. "can't trust" Russian President Vladimir Putin and should consider revisiting the decision to pull back its missile defenses in Europe.

"We can't trust Putin," she said. "Look what he said yesterday. He denied the reality on the ground in Ukraine. We're going to trust that he's suddenly going to pull back from this? History would suggest differently."

Ayotte, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, went on to label President Barack Obama's decision to pull back missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic "an absolute mistake," saying it sent the wrong message to Russia.

"In fact, I think we should revisit those missile defense systems and the decision that was made because obviously the Russians have not acted differently," she said. "They've violated international law, and we should look at protecting not only ourselves but Europe. That was a huge mistake."

Ayotte also said it's surprising that the Obama administration didn't see this coming.

"Why is this so shocking to the administration?" she said. "There is a history here – look at what happened with Georgia. For us to think they weren't going to try to interfere with the territorial integrity of Ukraine I think denies history and also I think was just a naive view of this."

Ayotte said she thinks the U.S. needs to pursue economic sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes.