Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), the rating member of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, issued a joint assertion Wednesday calling on colleagues to “swiftly pass” sanctions laws towards Russia in response to its newest airstrike towards Kyiv.
Tillis and Shaheen accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of escalating the struggle by launching an enormous drone and cruise missile assault over the weekend that broken a key authorities constructing in Kyiv.
And greater than 20 civilians have been killed within the Donbas area by a Russian bomb as they lined as much as obtain pension funds.
“At the very moment Putin escalates, the United States appears to be cutting back. Programs like Section 333 security cooperation, which includes the Baltic Security Initiative — lifelines for NATO’s eastern flank — are now on the chopping block, even as Europe takes on more of the burden,” they stated.
“Putin has shown us time and again that he is a liar and a murderer. He never wanted peace. Congress should swiftly pass legislation that imposes crippling sanctions on Putin’s regime and cement continued U.S. military support to Ukraine and NATO’s Eastern Flank,” they stated.
The senators stated the most recent Russian strikes included greater than 800 drones and missiles, making it the biggest aerial assault because the invasion started in 2022. It set Ukraine’s Cupboard of Ministers on hearth and killed civilians.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have sponsored laws that might place heavy tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil and fuel.
The measure has 85 Senate cosponsors.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) says senators are having discussions in regards to the sanctions laws and predicted it might cross earlier than Thanksgiving.
The measure was referred to the Senate Banking Committee in April however has not moved since then.
