US Congress prepares bill on Ukraine support and sanctions against Russia
Photo: US congressmen have prepared a bill to support Ukraine (Getty Image)
In the US House of Representatives, representatives of the Democratic Party have introduced a bill in support of Ukraine. It also provides for a significant strengthening of sanctions against Russia due to aggression, according to Reuters.
As Western media outlets note, this can be called another attempt by American lawmakers to pressure the administration of US President Trump to support Kyiv.
Representative of the Democrats on the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Greg Meeks, introduced a bill to support Ukraine, which would provide funding for the security and reconstruction of the Ukrainian side, and introduce strict sanctions against Russia. A copy of the document was reviewed by Reuters.
"The bill, which has not yet been made public, was filed two weeks after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate introduced stiff sanctions that would be imposed on Russia if it refuses to engage in good-faith peace negotiations with Ukraine," Reuters writes.
Congressional aides who helped write the House bill said their goal was to influence negotiations on any Ukraine-related legislation that Congress eventually passes.
Parts of the bill were expected to appear in any final, broad package on Ukraine, even if the initiative itself slows down in the Republican-majority House.
“This bill obviously will be part of the legislative conversation,” A US lawmaker says.
The bill
The bill consists of three sections and is expected to garner more support than the Ukraine bill in the US Senate.
The first reaffirms support for Ukraine and NATO, and also includes measures to help official Kyiv rebuild, including the creation of a special coordinator for Ukraine's reconstruction.
The second provides for security assistance to the Ukrainian side, including direct loans and military funding.
The third provides for the introduction of tough sanctions and export controls against Russia, in particular against financial institutions, the oil and mining industries, and Russian officials.
New US sanctions against Russia issue
In early April, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill to impose tough sanctions against Russia for refusing to make a long-term peace with Ukraine.
Before that, the American President was angry with Russia's delay in negotiations, and Donald Trump also did not rule out the introduction of additional tariffs of 25-50% for buyers of Russian oil.
However, when asked by media representatives whether Trump was ready to introduce new sanctions against Russia after the missile strike on the center of Sumy on Palm Sunday, which killed dozens of people and injured more than a hundred, the American leader did not give a clear answer.
