Strengthen Russian Sanctions

President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden, I hope this letter finds you well. As we continue to navigate the complexities of international relations, I want to bring to your attention a critical issue regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the leverage necessary to effectively address it. To foster a resolution to the war, it is essential that former President Trump has the leverage needed to engage with President Putin. However, our key leverage—sanctions—has diminished over the past 18 months, primarily due to the general license maintained by the U.S. Treasury that exempts payments for Russian oil and gas from financial sanctions. While this measure was initially intended to prevent spikes in oil prices and mitigate inflation, the current economic landscape has changed significantly. With inflation at its lowest level in years and a bearish outlook for oil prices, the time has come to reassess our approach. Therefore, I urge you to terminate the general license before leaving office. This decisive action would be a critical step in reinforcing our sanctions against Russia. Additionally, I recommend broadening secondary sanctions to cover Russian energy sales, implementing a phase-in period of a few months to allow the market to adjust. This would provide the necessary incentives for traders and refiners in Dubai, India, and China to shun Russian oil, thereby reshaping supply dynamics and encouraging other producers, such as Saudi Arabia, to increase their output. Moreover, it is vital to ensure that Congress retains a say in any future decisions to lift sanctions on Russia. The 2017 CAATSA law allows Congress to vote down presidential decisions regarding sanctions that predate 2017, yet many of your key sanctions have been issued under new executive orders. By reissuing significant sanctions, such as EO 13662, under the framework established before 2017, you can solidify congressional oversight and enhance Trump’s negotiating position with Putin. This would reduce the likelihood of President Putin using flattery to sway Trump into accepting unfavorable terms and would empower Trump to assert that any agreement must gain approval from a narrowly divided Congress. As you consider your final actions in office, I implore you to prioritize these steps. Strengthening sanctions and ensuring congressional oversight will not only bolster our position against Russia but also pave the way for a more credible diplomatic approach moving forward. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I appreciate your commitment to a peaceful resolution in Ukraine and your efforts to uphold American interests on the global stage. Sincerely,