The United States Senate may consider a new bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia before the current session ends. Such expectations were expressed by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal during his visit to Kyiv on February 16.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Details of the Bill and Support in the Senate
The legislative initiative, co-authored by Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, proposes significant enhancements to the sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation. In particular, the document includes provisions for imposing substantial tariffs on the import of Russian energy — oil, gas, uranium, and petroleum products. According to reports, over 80 out of 100 senators supported this initiative.
A notable innovation of the bill is the introduction of 500% tariffs on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian energy resources. This step is intended not only to limit financial flows to Russia but also to encourage other nations to abandon Russian energy sources.
Political Nuances and Leaders’ Positions
The advancement of the initiative, according to Blumenthal, has long depended on the position of US President Donald Trump. After the meeting between the American and Russian presidents in Alaska, politicians became hopeful that the US leader would support the bill. In early January, Senator Lindsey Graham reported that Donald Trump had given the “green light” for advancing the legislative changes.
At the same time, in November, it became known that President Trump was willing to sign the document only on the condition that he retained the right to make the final decision regarding the application of any restrictions.
“I hope the (bill – ed.) will be brought to a vote very soon. We have a clear commitment from the Senate leader to ensure a vote by the end of the current session. I am very, very hopeful for success. While working in the US Senate, I never use the word ‘confident,’ but I know that this issue is of great concern to people here,” Blumenthal noted.
Additionally, the senator sharply criticized Russia’s policy and its president, emphasizing the need for a decisive response from the US. He stressed that American society should not tolerate the delays in the adoption of sanctions and the blocking of decisions by the Kremlin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed a meeting with US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse in Kyiv on February 16. During the negotiations, Zelensky thanked the American side for years of bipartisan support and joint efforts for peace.