US Senator Says ‘Sledgehammer’ Russia Sanctions Could Pass House Next Month

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, asserted on Wednesday that comprehensive sanctions against Russia could potentially secure passage in the House of Representatives as early as September. Dubbing the proposed legislation a "sledgehammer," Blumenthal emphasized its potential to exert greater pressure on President Vladimir Putin.

During a visit to Kyiv, Blumenthal met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-ranking Ukrainian officials. He told a news conference in Kyiv, "Putin understands only force," and described the sanctions bill as a tool capable of delivering that force. The bill, which has garnered significant Republican backing in the House, follows its easy approval in the Senate last month.

It aims to penalize senior Russian officials and empower President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The legislation is intended to curb the energy revenues Moscow uses to fund its ongoing war against Ukraine. While Democrats generally back stronger sanctions on Russia, certain lawmakers have expressed concerns that the legislation might grant Trump extensive power to impose additional tariffs, potentially affecting US allies.

Blumenthal assured that exemptions within the bill would safeguard European allies from such tariffs. Blumenthal also informed that he had requested Zelensky to personally appeal to members of the House to endorse the legislation, which Zelensky "heartily and readily agreed" to do. Zelensky had already engaged with several US senators in Washington the month prior to the Senate's passage of the bill.

The bill's measures would notably intensify US economic pressure on Russia by targeting not only the country but also nations that continue to support Moscow through purchases of Russian energy.