Senators push for tougher sanctions to pressure Russia
American Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss sanctions and other measures that could be applied to pressure Russia into pursuing peace.
What do you need to know?
- Meeting in Kyiv: Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal traveled to Kyiv, where they held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Bill Proposal: Eighty-two senators have endorsed a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia and countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, and uranium.
- Visit to Europe: Senator Graham plans to visit Paris and Berlin to persuade European allies to lower the price cap on Russian oil.
What sanctions are the senators planning?
"Additional pressure is needed. I am grateful for the initiative – a bipartisan sanctions bill already supported by 82 senators. We talked about this and other levers we can use to force Russia into peace. We will continue to work on this together," Zelensky said on Telegram.
Republican Senator Graham emphasized that the bill calls for strong sanctions not only on Russia but also on countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, and uranium. He noted, "Seventy percent of all Russian oil is bought by China and India."
Will Europe join the sanctions?
Graham announced plans to visit Paris and Berlin to persuade European allies to lower the price cap on Russian oil. He stated, "If Europe does this, it will matter. It will harm the Russian war machine." He added that if Europe imposes sanctions on China, the US Senate would support that action.
Democratic Senator Blumenthal emphasized the importance of stopping the Russian offensive for national security. He stated, "For our national security, it is important to stop Russia's bloody and brutal offensive because Putin will continue his actions. If he is not stopped in Ukraine, he will continue actions against Poland, Sweden, Finland; so any plan to resolve this conflict must guarantee Ukraine's security."
"Russia is trying to ridicule diplomacy"
The Ukrainian president expressed his gratitude to the senators for their presence in Ukraine during a time when coordinated efforts for a decent and lasting peace are crucial.
"We also understand that Russia is trying to ridicule diplomacy: it hides behind negotiations but prepares for new offensive operations on the front, bombards our cities and villages every day, and rejects all ceasefire proposals," Zelensky stated.
The president concluded that "it is America's genuine involvement at all stages of negotiations that can guarantee a lasting peace."
