Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly assured on Sunday that Sochi will be safe for the 2014 Olympic games, despite recent concerns over terrorist activity.
"The job of the Olympics host is to ensure security of the participants in the Olympics and visitors. We will do whatever it takes," Putin said on This Week through a translator.
"We have adequate needs available to us through the federal security service, the interior ministry, armed forces units that will be involved in providing security on the water and in the air. If necessary, all those tools will be activated."
Following a pair of December suicide bombings, the threat of terrorist activity has hovered over the Sochi Olympics. U.S. lawmakers reiterated that concern on Sunday, with some claiming they are being left in the dark on the intelligence collected by Russians.
"I do believe that the Russian government needs to be more cooperative with the United States when it comes to the security of the games. We have found a departure of cooperation that is very concerning to me," Chairman Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) said on CNN’s State of the Union.
"They’re not giving us the full story about what are the threat streams, who do we need to worry about, are those terrorist groups that have had some threat still plotting. There’s a missing gap," Rogers said.
Saturday night a video was released by a terrorist organization, Ansar al-Sunnah, showing two men claiming responsibility for the suicide bombings. ABC News reported that the men, who can been seen making bombs in the video, say there will be "further attacks during the Olympic games," promising to have a "surprise package" for visiting tourists.
Appearing on This Week from Russia, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Tex.), expressed a desire for more security, but also praised Putin’s efforts.
"We have two dozen FBI agents, but quite frankly, it could be a lot better. And that's one thing I want to press while I'm over here," McCaul said.
"All the briefings that I've received, from the intelligence community to the FBI and others, indicate that there are serious concerns and that we need to do a lot to step up security. I do believe Putin is doing a lot of that. These are the largest security operations for any Olympic games in the history of the Olympics," McCaul said.
The United States offered to assist Russia with security following the December attacks. However, Russian Olympic chief Alexander Zhukov maintained that "all necessary security measures have been foreseen" and Russia would not take additional security measures.
As a result, private security firms are being hired to accompany US athletes.
Putin seemed to encourage taking such steps on ABC.
"If someone believes that they should devise their own personal security plans, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it must be done in contact with the Olympics organizers and with our security services," the Russian president said.
Rogers’ concerns have not dissipated.
"They’ve had several bombings [and] a disrupted plot. They’ve now moved some 30,000 armed troops down to the region. That tells you that their level of concern is great, but we don’t seem to be getting all the information we need to protect our athletes in the games," Rogers said.
When asked if he would tell a constituent they could or should go to Sochi, McCaul was unsure.
"I have concerns. I know when I get back from this trip I’ll have better opinions on that. I know that the State Department has issued a travel warning, that’s something to take seriously… but I can tell you as the Homeland Security Chairman, and the threats that I see, I am concerned."
The Olympic games will begin February 7.