Democratic senators launch investigation into Trump’s suspension of sanctions against Russia
Three Democratic senators announced the beginning of an investigation into the more than five-month pause made by the administration of US President Donald Trump in the implementation of new sanctions against Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine. About this informs The Hill.
“Instead of taking entirely reasonable steps to pressure the aggressor, President Trump is doing nothing, and we will investigate this missed opportunity to bring an end to this war.” — stated in a joint statement by Senators Jean Shagin (New Hampshire), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) and Chris Coons (Delaware).
Since the start of Trump’s second term, which began in January, the US has not imposed any new sanctions against Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine, and in some cases has even eased existing sanctions.
During Joe Biden’s presidency, the United States imposed more than 6,200 sanctions against entities linked to Moscow. These sanctions targeted companies, trade and financial transactions that support Russia’s war machine, and were implemented at an average rate of more than 170 new sanctions per month.
According to the senators, the lack of new restrictions allows Vladimir Putin to continue his attack on Ukraine, despite Trump’s declaration of his intention to quickly stop the war:
“Americans should ask why a president who says he wants to end a major war is instead allowing an aggressor to act with impunity. In addition to cutting off key aid to Ukraine, President Trump has blocked regular updates to our sanctions and export controls for more than five months — allowing a growing number of violators in China and around the world to continue to supply the Russian war machine.”
The senators believe that inaction only emboldens the Kremlin: not using the available tools, as stated in the statement, “encourages Putin to continue the war.” The senators urged the Trump administration to enforce existing sanctions, including resuming regular updates of lists of entities that support Russia’s defense industry, and called for coordination with European allies to increase pressure on the Kremlin.
“The only way to a just and lasting peace is to show resolve alongside our G7 partners and show Putin that the costs will only increase as long as he continues his brutal assault on innocent Ukrainians.” – says the statement.
