Senate member Richard Blumenthal debates over his proposed legislation, which encompasses further financial penalties on Russia.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, is urging the U.S. government to take a stronger stance against Russia and the nations fueling Putin's war economy. He is advocating for the passage of the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, a bill he introduced alongside Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina.
The bill, if passed, would target countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, specifically China, India, and Brazil. According to Blumenthal, this approach is crucial in putting pressure on Putin and stopping his war.
Blumenthal argues that past sanctions have failed to deter Russia, and the new bill would bring new pressure. He believes that by targeting Russia's oil customers, the U.S. can disrupt the Russian economy and weaken Putin's war efforts.
The senator's call for action comes after a series of escalating attacks by Russia, including drone and missile attacks in response to Trump's warnings. The Sept. 7 strikes in Ukraine resulted in the damage of a Ukrainian government building in Kyiv, killing two people, including a baby.
Blumenthal is concerned that Russia may find ways to circumvent U.S. sanctions and emphasizes the need for tough enforcement and stringent application of the sanctions. He hopes that the President may take additional action on his own, even as early as this week.
The senator also believes that Ukraine needs security guarantees from the United States and European allies because U.S. national defense is involved in the conflict. He argues that Ukraine needs more military aid, economic sanctions, and to become an "iron porcupine" that Russia could never swallow.
Greg Myre reports that Russia's economy remains relatively weak, but revenue from oil and gas sales has helped sustain it during the war. Therefore, Blumenthal argues that the U.S. should avoid dependence on Russia for fertilizer or any other commodity if that's going to be a means for Russia to exert pressure on the U.S.
Senator Blumenthal states that the bill sends a message to the world that Congress is behind sanctions that the President may impose. He believes that President Biden should be supportive of the bill and that the bill would provide a legally bulletproof way to impose sanctions.
The Sanctioning Russia Act was first introduced by Blumenthal and Graham in 2014. If passed, the new version of the bill would be different from past U.S. sanctions as it would target countries that buy Russian oil and gas, specifically China, India, and Brazil, and would provide for tough enforcement.
Blumenthal states that the President has been stalled and stonewalled by Putin, and now is the time for action. He argues that the new Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 would be a significant step in putting pressure on Russia and its allies and in supporting Ukraine in its fight against Putin's war.
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