Pulaski Times

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) has joined forces with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and a bipartisan group of over three dozen senators to propose strict sanctions against Russia. These sanctions aim to address Russia's ongoing actions against Ukraine.

The proposed measures would be enacted if Russia fails to partake in sincere negotiations for lasting peace or engages in actions, including military invasion, that threaten Ukraine's sovereignty after a peace agreement is achieved. The legislation also suggests a significant tariff increase of 500 percent on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other goods.

"In 1994, as part of the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine gave up approximately 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise from the U.S., Russia and United Kingdom that Ukraine’s sovereignty would be honored in the future. This failed to deter Russian aggression. In 2014 and 2015, the Minsk agreements were reached to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but again, it did nothing to deter future aggression. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine once more, leading to deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions," stated the senators involved in this initiative.

They expressed hope that under President Trump's leadership in 2025, a lasting resolution to Russian aggression toward Ukraine could be achieved. "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. These sanctions against Russia are at the ready and will receive overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support if presented to the Senate and House for a vote," they added.

"We support an immediate ceasefire to secure a lasting, honorable peace," concluded the senators in their statement.

Additionally, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Katie Britt (R-AL), and several others have sponsored the sanctions, indicating broad bipartisan support for the measures.