Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated Wednesday that a Russian sanctions bill was gaining momentum in both chambers of Congress.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced additional sanctions on Russia to pressure Russian leader Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine. Thune said he “hoped” he could bring it to the Senate floor for a vote before the August recess.
“We are working with the administration and the House to try and get it in a form where it’s ready,” Thune told reporters.
“Obviously, there is a tremendous amount, as you know, bipartisan support here in the Senate,” Thune said. “I think that’s shared in the House of Representatives, at least I hope that it is, and in the White House they’re obviously engaged in trying to get it in a form that we can transact it across the floor of the Senate.”
Thune said senators were “communicating with the White House” on a “regular basis.”
“We’ve gotten individual senators, members who are talking to the White House and to our colleagues in the House, and we’re sort of gaming out how that might ultimately be accomplished,” Thune said.
“It’s an important message to send, especially now,” Thune continued. “It’s leverage that we need, and then, frankly, the White House aides in their negotiations with the Russians.”
The U.S. already has sanctions against Russia from before its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This legislation would place further sanctions on Russian officials and financial institutions, including a 500% tariff on countries that purchase Russian oil or natural gas.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has also expressed support for further sanctions.
“Vladimir Putin has shown an unwillingness to be reasonable and to talk seriously about brokering a peace, and I think we have to send him a message — that’s my view,” Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday.
THUNE SAYS SENATE ‘READY TO HELP’ WITH RUSSIA SANCTIONS IF PEACE TALKS FALTER
The sanctions legislation has bipartisan support, with up to 80 Senators approving, including Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).
“I have always said that the U.S. must put more pressure on Putin to end his unjustified war on Ukraine by imposing greater sanctions on Moscow,” Bennett posted. “I am glad that the President and Republican Congressional leaders have belatedly recognized the need for these sanctions.”