Meeks Calls for More Russia Sanctions
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., has urged newly installed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to follow through on his pledge to increase sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine.
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In a Feb. 1 letter that was publicly released Feb. 4, Meeks said that while the Russia sanctions imposed by the Biden administration haven't yet convinced Moscow to end the war, they have made it more difficult for Russia to fund its military campaign and gain support from other countries. Meeks said he believes further pressure could be applied through additional sanctions.
During his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing, Bessent testified that he favors ramping up sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to force the country to join peace talks (see 2501160062). Bessent received Senate confirmation Jan. 27 (see 2501280006) and was sworn in the following day.
While “heartened” by Bessent’s testimony, as well as by President Donald Trump’s threat to impose more sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t negotiate an end to the war (see 2501220074), Meeks cautioned that he would oppose efforts to waive or terminate Russia sanctions “without proper justification.” Treasury had no immediate comment on the letter.
Meeks’ letter follows his reintroduction of two sanctions bills aimed at Russian activities in Ukraine (see 2501210004). One would sanction entities and people who have endangered the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, while the other would sanction foreign persons who contribute to the construction, maintenance or repair of tunnels or bridges from Russia to the Crimean Peninsula.