WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined a bipartisan group of 52 senators in introducing legislation aimed at imposing both primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and individuals or entities that support Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine. The legislation is co-led by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and other colleagues across the political aisle.
The proposed sanctions would be triggered if Russia fails to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace in Ukraine or launches additional military actions that compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty following any peace agreement. In addition to direct sanctions, the legislation calls for a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products.
In a joint statement, the senators emphasized broad bipartisan support for the measure, underscoring the seriousness of the sanctions. “They are hard hitting for a reason,” the statement read, asserting that the prevailing view in the Senate is that Russia bears responsibility for initiating and prolonging the conflict in Ukraine.
The statement also referenced historical efforts to deter Russian aggression, such as the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the 2014–2015 Minsk agreements, which lawmakers said failed to prevent future invasions. The senators expressed hope that a future U.S. administration could achieve a durable resolution. “It is our hope that in 2025, President Trump and his team will achieve what has eluded the world in the past,” the statement read, supporting a ceasefire and a “lasting, honorable peace.”
Senator Britt has positioned herself as a proponent of American energy independence and has consistently linked energy policy to national security. She has criticized policy decisions that she says benefit foreign adversaries, including pauses on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) permits. Citing recent trade data, Britt pointed to a 7% increase in Russian LNG imports by European Union countries in the first half of 2024 as a sign that Western energy markets remain vulnerable.
Britt also recently joined Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Congressman August Pfluger (R-Texas), and other Republican lawmakers in reintroducing the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, which seeks to streamline permitting for LNG export terminals. “American national security starts with American energy dominance,” Britt said, framing the legislation as part of an effort to reduce global reliance on adversarial nations for energy needs.
The sanctions legislation is expected to receive consideration in both chambers of Congress, with bipartisan support signaling strong potential for passage.
