Sullivan, Graham, and Blumenthal Introduce Hard-Hitting Russia Sanctions
WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week introduced legislation with primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and global actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
These sanctions would be imposed if Russia refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or initiates another effort, including military invasion, that undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after peace is negotiated. The legislation also imposes a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products.
“President Trump’s goal in these negotiations is clear: stopping this war, ending the killing, and ensuring a sovereign and secure Ukraine,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Achieving this goal requires both Ukraine and Russia to come to the table, but Vladimir Putin—who started this brutal war against Ukraine—has been unwilling to agree to a ceasefire or seriously negotiate a peace agreement. A bipartisan majority of my Senate colleagues and I are working to provide a comprehensive sanctions package against Russia that puts Putin on notice and gives the administration additional tools and leverage to end this war and find a workable peace.”
Sen. Sullivan has been a strong supporter of sanctions and other actions to condemn and deter Russia and other authoritarian regimes. Sen. Sullivan pushed back against the Biden administration’s weak foreign policy positions that emboldened Putin and has strongly endorsed sustaining robust defense spending above 3% of GDP, reducing Indo-Pacific allies’ reliance on Russian oil and gas by exporting Alaskan and American energy, and building up Alaska-based military to deter further incursions by Russian and Chinese military forces near Alaska. In February 2024, Sen. Sullivan voted to pass legislation to strengthen America’s defense industrial base and provide weapons to America’s allies facing threats abroad.
The sanctions are cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Angus King (I-Maine), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Col.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Michael Bennet (D-Col.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Companion legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio).
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