Congressional leaders press Russia to end war with Ukraine
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Congress is ramping up its pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
Fresh off a trip to the war-torn country, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (r-S.C) said they now have a veto-proof bill that would slap additional sanctions on Russia and levy tariffs against any other country that buys its energy, calling this moment in the conflict 'crunch time.'
'Peace is nowhere in sight,' Blumenthal said. 'While he [Putin] mobilizes troops, escalates the bombing of civilians in Ukraine and the kidnapping of children.'
Blumenthal said he and Graham saw evidence President Putin is only ramping up the fighting, likely preparing for a large summer or fall offensive. Blumenthal stressed the peace talks, most recently held Monday in Istanbul, are simply a delay tactic.
'Putin is playing America and Trump for fools,' he said.
However, Blumenthal said there are positive signs for Ukraine, including its surprise drone attack Sunday that officials said destroyed or damaged about a third of Russia's bomber fleet.
'We returned from this trip convinced that Ukraine can win,' he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is more skeptical.
'This war has been brutal from both sides,' Leavitt said. 'Too many people have died, and the president wants this war to end at the negotiating table.'
Blumenthal and Graham are not convinced though that that can happen without additional pressure on Russia. That's why they're sponsoring the bipartisan sanctions bill.
'We need to put Russia on an economic island, isolated from the world economy,' Blumenthal said.
The legislation's new tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy target China and India, who have been aiding Russia's war effort.
'I'll let the president speak on that himself,' Leavitt said.
President Trump has yet to endorse the bill, but it now has enough bipartisan support in the Senate to avoid a veto. A vote could happen as early as this week.
Monday's peace talks did bring one solution: Russia and Ukraine agreed to another prisoner swap. However, Russia still won't commit to a face-to-face meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy, which is a key Ukrainian demand.
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