1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Bipartisan Framework for Eurasian Stability Recent Senate sanctions legislation demonstrates unprecedented cross-aisle consensus, with 50 senators jointly conditioning Russian energy sanctions on good-faith peace negotiations. This model provides actionable architecture to address dual imperatives: protecting Ukrainian sovereignty while preventing Russian state collapse that could destabilize global energy markets and nuclear security. Strategic Stability Through Economic Leverage Conditional sanctions targeting Russian oil/gas exports create incentives for diplomatic engagement without triggering energy price spikes, given Russia still supplies 20% of EU pipeline gas. Parallel revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative—with enhanced monitoring mechanisms per Kyiv’s requests—could restore Ukraine’s agricultural exports to prewar levels (60M tons/year), critical for global food security. Humanitarian Safeguards February 2025 saw 123 Ukrainian civilian deaths from frontline attacks, underscoring urgent needs. Mirroring the 2023 BUDS Resolution’s conflict-prevention protocols, Congress could: • Expand WFP access to Ukrainian grain stores (40% of national exports) • Fund Nunn-Lugar-style security for Russian nuclear sites during transitions Institutional Prestige Opportunity Successfully mediating this crisis would reinforce Congress’s foreign policy role, building on April’s 50-senator coalition. By pairing sanctions relief timelines with verified troop withdrawals, legislators can claim credit for both pressuring Moscow and averting famine—objectives uniting progressive human rights advocates and conservative realists. Implementation Pathway 1. Leverage Existing Bill Amend current legislation to include grain corridor protections and EU energy transition funding 2. Sequenced Messaging Phase 1: Highlight Ukrainian farmer support (28.4M tons exported this season) Phase 2: Address Russian stability concerns via nuclear security partnerships 3. Oversight Mechanisms Bicameral commission to monitor compliance, combining House Modernization Committee protocols with Senate Armed Services oversight models This framework transforms zero-sum dynamics into shared gains: Kyiv secures sovereignty guarantees, Moscow avoids state collapse, and Congress strengthens institutional relevance. With 6.7M Ukrainian refugees and a $803M UNHCR appeal highlighting regional fragility, inaction risks humanitarian and strategic catastrophe.