A group of Senate Democrats introduced a bill on Wednesday that would impose sweeping sanctions on Russia and expand military aid to Kyiv if the president determines Russia is being hostile towards Ukraine.
Introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and 25 other Democrats, the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022 would require that the president determine whether the Russian government is “engaged in or knowingly supporting a significant escalation in hostilities or hostile action in or against Ukraine, compared to the level of hostilities or hostile action in or against Ukraine prior to December 1, 2021.”
The wording of the legislation means that even if Russia doesn’t invade Ukraine, the president could claim Moscow is “hostile” enough to impose the sanctions anyway. The sanctions would target Russian government officials, including President Vladimir Putin, and Russian financial institutions.
The legislation would require the Biden administration to review sanctions waivers for the Russian-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline. And if the president determines Russia is hostile to Ukraine, the bill would mandate sanctions aimed at stopping the pipeline.
The president’s determination would also authorize an additional $500 million in military aid to Kyiv on top of the $300 million allocated for Ukraine under the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill specifies that “lethal assistance” would be authorized, including “anti-armor weapon systems, mortars, crew-served weapons and ammunition, grenade launchers and ammunition, anti-tank weapons systems, anti-ship weapons systems, anti-aircraft weapons systems, and small arms and ammunition.”
The White House issued a statement backing the bill. “We support Senator Menendez’s legislation, which would trigger severe costs to Russia’s economy if Russia further invades Ukraine, just like President Biden and our allies and partners have made clear we will do,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said.
At this point it is all blah, blah.
Russia has laid out its security concerns. And will on its own time table measure the progress. Adding more circus to the already large pile of treasury rules, already impossible to administer.
It remains to be seen how will the process evolve. Whatever happens, the circus will not help.
“Hostile to Ukraine?”
They are going to eliminate it from the map if we don’t do some reasonable deal before the time window to talk closes.
You WANT a war? Because this is how you’d get one.
Not going to matter. I expect war between Ukraine and Russia to begin in February, at the latest in summer. After Russia finishes trashing the Ukraine military, that will be the end of any weapons shipments to Ukraine.
Meanwhile:
Russia deploys its deadliest weapon near Ukraine – TOS-1 thermobaric rocket launcher
Perfect device to fry soldiers in trenches.
This is what Ukraine has waiting for it:
30 Thermobaric Rocket Bombs in 15-Seconds – The Russian TOS-1 Flamethrower
You think it will end there?
NATO does not want it to end with that sort of defeat. They’ll escalate. Putin will oblige.
This has everything needed to run out of control.
NATO will pi$$ their pants like the little spineless beaches that they are. They have NOTHING that can stop Russia from flattening the banderite trash 🙂
Yes, it will end there. The US isn’t going to fight for Ukropistan, and the Eurotrash won’t & can’t.
The US certainly doesn’t want to fight, and it’s not a conflict that the US can win. The problem is that Team R will scream “appeasement” of Biden does anything less than push The Button.
I hope you are right.
I think our leadership is even more foolish than you credit them.
They are like children playing with fire, putting matches to the drapes.
I originally assessed that, given the military balance between NATO and Russia, NATO would stand down and the US would, also.
However, seeing the number and extent of the NATO military exercises to be conducted in Ukraine in 2020, many starting in February which is when many predict the war will start, I begin to question that assessment.
It may be that the plan is for Ukraine to attack Donbass under cover of a major NATO exercise, thereby putting NATO troops in harms way when Russia responds. This would result in the effected NATO country asserting Article 5 of the NATO Charter. That would bring in the US into the conflict.
I’m starting to think that this is the CIA and neocons’ plan. Even if Biden isn’t on board (although I think he is), this plan would essentially force Biden to involve the US.
Here’s a thought. Why doesn’t Congress worry about problems here in the US and stop meddling in other people’s affairs. God knows we have enough problems here and not enough money to solve everyone else’s.
The senate democrats must have felt a tinge of jealousy towards the republicans for them calling to trash the Vienna talks. https://news.antiwar.com/2022/01/12/house-republicans-urge-biden-administration-to-stop-iran-talks/
And isn’t that Mendedez fellow, besides being a complete Israeli firster, a fanatical warmongering little turd?
This is really pathetic, an attempt to gain “some” relevance in the on going spectacle of bashing Russia.
One has to remember the knee walking fawning of this committee with Menendez, cardin, et al when browder did his fraudulent appearance and successfully lied his way for approval of the disastrous magnitsky act and hoax.