President Trump has finally given his approval to a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that was introduced and put in a drawer for eight months.
Members of Congress believe this legislation could be the final blow to the Russian economy, which would force Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT: I think it should be timed with the possibility of talks, but talks with Russia require a cease fire. That has always been the condition. Putin has always resisted it. I am not optimistic that he will come to the table unless we apply these Sledgehammer sanctions that stop revenue for his war machine
The bill is two pronged and mainly targets Russian petroleum products like oil and gas.
It would impose a 500% tariff on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States. It also imposes a 500% tariff on all countries that buy Russian uranium and petroleum products. That would put immense pressure on India, China, Brazil and Hungary to stop buying Russian oil and gas, which has been used as the main revenue source for the war.
Reports indicate India and China are both ending their purchase agreements due to a separate sanctions package. If they keep buying Russian oil, their products that come into the United States would be subject to the 500% sanction.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT: I’m very glad that the President has finally, finally explicitly given his okay to the bill, and I hope it will move forward right away, either in the House or the Senate, it is needed now more than ever, as the possibility of talks appears to be perhaps happening, all the more reason that the President United States should have these economic sanctions as a possible remedy if the purchase of oil and gas continue by China, India, Brazil, Hungary,
Congress is looking for new ways to support Ukraine, particularly ways that don’t involve large American wire transfers.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La: Ukraine is running out of money and America is not going to provide more. An alternative would be to pass a resolution asking, perhaps even directing the Europeans to release the $300 billion of frozen Russia assets now in cash to to Ukraine to use to fight back.
There are a group of Republicans who do not want to provide anymore support to Ukraine because they believe struggling Americans need the money and the resources here at home.
For the lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that do support Ukraine, there has been disagreement since the start of the war as to what Ukraine should be allowed to do with the weapons they buy from the west. Some believe Ukraine should not be allowed to strike inside Russian territory, others say Ukraine will only be able to win if they are more aggressive.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La: let them buy missiles and take out every petroleum refinery and. Russia and every manufacturing plant in Russia that’s being used to manufacture munitions, or munitions or weapons, and the Europeans respond when I’ve suggested that to them, well, we don’t want to break international law. What? What planet are they living on Putin is breaking international law. He invaded a sovereign country.
The exact timing of the bill is not yet known. Thanksgiving break next week is going to cause a delay, but the first week of December is a strong possibility.