Blumenthal Statement on Russian Sanctions

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the statement below on the expiration of President Trump’s self-imposed deadline for Russia to cease its war in Ukraine or risk sanctions:

“Trump appears to be dodging his own deadline and ducking immediate sanctions action despite Putin’s blatant defiance. Trump’s delay emphasizes the need for the Graham-Blumenthal Russia Sanctions Bill. It would impose bone-crushing sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas customers like China, India and Brazil that are fueling Putin’s war machine. This legislation is supported by 85 Senators and approving it would show unity across our government in support of confronting Putin’s bloody atrocities against Ukraine.”

“Trump is undercutting his own credibility, and America’s, by wavering on sanctions and assenting to a hastily arranged one-on-one meeting after making deeply alarming remarks about swapping territories. Any meeting with Putin should include President Zelensky and involve our European allies, who have stepped forward so significantly to support Ukraine. A ceasefire should be a summit condition, as President Trump has previously insisted. Putin has shown zero sign of wanting peace or even a ceasefire, as he continues to murderously bomb Ukrainian children and families and commit unspeakable atrocities like holding more than 20,000 kidnapped Ukrainian children.”

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