Senate Democrats Push Trump Administration to Boost Russia Sanctions
Six Senate Democrats -- led by Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire -- urged the Trump administration May 5 to increase sanctions on Russia to pressure Moscow to end its war on Ukraine.
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In a letter to Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, the senators recommended restarting regular sanctions designations, including against Chinese entities and other third countries that help Russia’s war machine. The Biden administration’s regular implementation of sanctions, including more than 500 designations announced in February 2024 (see 2402230035), made it harder for Russia to evade such measures, the letter said.
The senators also called for strengthening sanctions on Russian energy, such as by targeting more Russian oil companies, “opaque” traders of Russian oil and oil-carrying "shadow" fleet vessels, as well as those involved in resuming natural gas processing at Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project.
The letter also suggested that the administration reverse its "gutting" of sanctions and export control enforcement teams, increase sanctions collaboration with other Group of Seven nations, disrupt banking relationships and China-Russia payment mechanisms that help Russia undermine U.S. measures, and stop encouraging private-sector reengagement with Russia.
In addition to Warren and Shaheen, the letter is signed by Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Andy Kim of New Jersey, and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. The White House and State Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The letter was sent the same day the House passed a bill that would authorize sanctions on foreign adversaries that support Russia’s defense industrial base (see 2505060054). Several other sanctions measures aimed at weakening Russia's war machine have been introduced in Congress or are being drafted (see 2504150014, 2504150026, 2504100054, 2504040010 and 2504020003).
President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in March that U.S. sanctions on Russia might increase if Moscow doesn't negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine (see 2503180038 and 2503070035).