Senate mounts new Russia pressure campaign
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Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo: Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
A bipartisan group of senators are pushing to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over kidnapped Ukrainian children, as momentum builds once again for a big, bipartisan Russia sanctions package.
Why it matters: Russia's violation of Polish airspace this week has reignited the desire of Senate leaders for a strong response to aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Driving the news: Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) rolled out a new bill on Thursday that would put new pressure on Russia.
- The bill would label Russia and Belarus state sponsors of terrorism if they do not return the more than 19,000 children Ukraine says have been kidnapped during the war.
- Only Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria are currently designated state sponsors of terrorism under U.S. law.
What they're saying: "It's hard to get on that list. Well, let me tell you, Russia's earned the right to be on this list," Graham said.
- "We're gonna ask leaders of both parties to give us a chance to debate this and vote on it, and we want to put in motion right now," he continued.
What to watch: Graham has continued working to get the White House on board with his separate bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, which has more than 80 cosponsors.
- The bill would hit Russia with economic sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate with Ukraine and would also set a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil.
- Graham told reporters Thursday that he had "a very good conversation" with the White House, adding, "I think we've worked out most of our differences and I'll let you know next week where we're at for sure."
- Graham said he plans to speak with Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Thursday about bringing the bill to a vote, based on his talk with the White House.
Thune told reporters this week that there's "intensified interest" in passing the legislation.
Between the lines: "We're going to try to create another front against Putin's Russia," Graham said Thursday about the new bill.
- "The Russians have invaded Ukraine and they have kidnapped, we think, 19,546 Ukrainian children away from their families in Ukraine," he said.
- "What's the right answer? Do something about it. Get off our ass as a world and make this, like, unacceptable," the senator said.
Zoom out: Poland and NATO forces shot down more than a dozen Russian drones that "repeatedly" violated the Polish airspace late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
- Trump said once again that he was prepared to put sanctions on Russia after the largest drone attack of the war on Sunday, but he has declined to impose direct penalties up to now.
- "What's with Russia violating Poland's airspace with drones? Here we go," Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday.
- The incident sparked bipartisan criticism of Russia.
