Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and 47 of their bipartisan Senate colleagues to introduce a bill that would impose primary and secondary sanctions on Russia – and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine – if Russia refuses to engage in good-faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty after such a peace is negotiated.
“For over three years, the Ukrainian people have fought bravely against Vladimir Putin’s unjust aggression. Our support for Ukraine must remain steadfast, and we must not pressure Ukraine to silence their guns unless Russia commits to do the same,” said Bennet. “Our bipartisan bill will hold Russia accountable if Vladimir Putin refuses to genuinely negotiate for a lasting end to this war. Any agreement to end the conflict must be just and enduring – for the sake of Ukraine, U.S. national security, and democracy worldwide.”
President Donald Trump has sought to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. While Ukraine announced its willingness to support a U.S. 30-day ceasefire proposal, Russia rejected it – and continues to launch strikes across Ukraine, including on civilians.
Bennet has staunchly supported the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their democracy against Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked, and unlawful invasion. Last month, Bennet and fellow Senate Finance Committee members demanded that President Donald Trump maintain Congressionally required trade restrictions on Russia. In February, he joined a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to Kyiv, Ukraine. He also visited Lviv, Ukraine with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate colleagues last year.
In addition to Bennet, Blumenthal, and Graham, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Angus King (I-Maine), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) cosponsored the sanctions.
U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn., Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) introduced companion legislation in the House.
The text of the bill is available HERE.