Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt, together with Senators Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, and 49 other bipartisan colleagues, has introduced sanctions targeting Russia and those supporting its actions in Ukraine. The move aims to enforce primary and secondary sanctions on Russia should it fail to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine or try to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty after a peace agreement.

The proposed legislation also includes a significant tariff of 500 percent on goods from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. “We are pleased to announce that we have received overwhelming bipartisan support for our primary and secondary sanctions legislation against Russia. The sanctions against Russia require tariffs on countries who purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. They are hard hitting for a reason,” stated the Senators in their announcement.

The document emphasizes the general consensus within the U.S. Senate, describing Russia as the aggressor in the conflict and underscoring a commitment to deter Russia's actions now and in the future. "The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future," the Senators remarked.

Additionally, the statement aligns with former President Trump's frustrations with Russia, expressing support for his efforts to broker a lasting peace. Historical references were made to past agreements such as the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk agreements, which did not prevent Russia's repeated invasions of Ukraine, with the most recent conflict starting in 2022. "It is our hope that in 2025, President Trump and his team will achieve what has eluded the world in the past: ending Russian aggression against Ukraine permanently and ensuring the survivability of a free and democratic Ukraine.”

Senator Britt has been vocal about the importance of American energy independence and the potential risk of relying on Russian resources. She has previously highlighted that stopping new liquefied natural gas (LNG) permits may favor foreign adversaries. A recent report noted a 7 percent increase in LNG imports from Russia to the European Union in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year.

Recently, Senator Britt partnered with Senator Tim Scott, Congressman August Pfluger, and other Republicans to reintroduce the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act. “American national security starts with American energy dominance. This legislation to streamline the permitting process for LNG export terminals is a critical step in implementing President Trump’s America First energy agenda so foreign customers don’t turn to other suppliers, including our adversaries,” stated Senator Britt.