We Still Stand With Ukraine, Pass Russia Sanctions Now

Congress should mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by finally moving forward with deeper sanctions on the aggressors. Please work to bring such measures up for a vote. It’s clear to everyone but the Trump White House that Putin has no interest in a just, lasting settlement with Ukraine. Moscow is demanding our allies accept a defeat their troops haven’t earned on the battlefield. This administration, instead of standing up for freedom and democracy, continues to bully Kyiv to make concessions. They want peace at any price. Taken with Trump’s own attacks on smaller nations and threats towards NATO, we are sending a dangerous message to the world. We’re telling Russia and China that wars of conquest are normal and winnable, and we don’t have the backbone or the interest to stand up to them. We’re telling our friends we can’t be trusted and their only choice is to give their most powerful neighbor whatever they want. Maybe Trump thinks it will get him a Nobel Peace Prize, but it’s a disaster for our national security, along with a betrayal of our values and the Ukrainian people. We are fortunate to have a coalition on Capitol Hill with an understanding of what is at stake. While there are disagreements on the details, new sanctions on Russia have considerable support on both sides of the aisle. Passing them could strengthen President Zelenskyy’s hand at the negotiating table, where right now Putin seems content to stall. Delay no further in taking action.