The U.S. Senate will vote next week on draconian sanctions against Russia — Axios
The U.S. Senate may consider a bill next week to impose harsh sanctions against Russia, known as “hellish sanctions.” The bill was introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham, who recently passed away.
Democrats are signaling to their Republican colleagues that they are ready to vote on the sanctions package as early as next week.
If the bill is passed, it will mark a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation in passing legislation that will help end the war in Ukraine. This is because, for most of the year, the Senate has been embroiled in partisan strife.
A memorial service for the senator will be held on Tuesday at the Capitol. It will provide an emotional backdrop for the Senate’s consideration of the bill that Graham had been trying to bring to a successful conclusion in the final days of his life.
“I am optimistic about the future and hope that we can move forward. Ukraine is gaining momentum on the battlefield, and the Kremlin’s position is becoming increasingly precarious. It is crucial that we act as quickly as possible,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
Axios notes that the bill, which has more than 60 co-sponsors, was revised twice following Graham’s sudden death on July 11.
In particular, senators lowered the overall secondary tariff rate from 500% to 100% and narrowed the bill’s scope, allowing tariffs to be imposed on no more than five countries.
Subsequently, on July 19, U.S. President Donald Trump requested that the bill’s scope be expanded to include Iran. Senators, in turn, took this into account, Axios reports.
Earlier, the European Union approved its 21st package of sanctions against Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine. The new restrictions target the financial sector, the energy sector, the military-industrial complex, the shadow fleet, and schemes to circumvent sanctions.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called for tougher sanctions following Russia’s attack on a tanker near Romania.
The EU will impose sanctions on Belarusian oil refineries for supplying gasoline to Russia.
