New Senate Bill Would Sanction Russia If It Rejects Peace Talks With Ukraine
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced a bill April 1 to sanction Russia and its supporters if Moscow refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine in good faith or undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty after a peace deal is reached.
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The Sanctioning Russia Act, backed by 50 senators equally split between Democrats and Republicans, would also impose a 500% tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. The bill's introduction came amid reports that President Donald Trump is displeased with Russian President Vladimir Putin's resistance to a ceasefire.
The potential penalties “are hard-hitting for a reason,” a Graham news release says. “The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future.”
The 31-page bill was referred to the Senate Banking Committee for consideration. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and three other House members introduced companion legislation, which was referred to the House Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform committees.
In a related matter, Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said March 27 that she's drafting a bill to update the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, a 2017 law that led to sanctions being imposed on several countries, including Russia.