A local state lawmaker is proposing a way to target Russia's economy.

With the U.S. imposing economic sanctions against Russia, state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick is planning to bolster that in another way with the "Stop Russian Aggression Act."

It would aim to block the state from giving contracts to any business that do business in Russia. It also divests the state pension fund from investing in companies that do business in Russia.

"My heart is with the people in Ukraine that are dealing with this terrible calamity, and I think that as a state, we are with you. We are with you, and we're going to try and do whatever we can to put pressure on Putin to stop this war of aggression," says Reichlin-Melnick.

Pace University professor Dr. Andriy Danylenko left eastern Ukraine a few decades ago, but he has a family member stuck in the midst of Russia's attacks and is wondering what will happen next.

"These people who do not know what's going on. Definitely, they have this information, where to hide. Where to go. Still coping somehow with this information, but everyone's still shocked," he says.

Out of the warfare, Danylenko sees a sign of hope for his native country because more of its citizens are ready to protect it - including his cousin.

"And I understand him, he has to take care of his kids and the two women in his family. But, at any moment, he told me, yes. He told me, OK. If I'm left with no other option. Do you think I will surrender or give up? No, no way," says Danylenko.