Senate Committee to Consider Designating Russia as State Sponsor of Terrorism
This week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to discuss a bill that aims to classify Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. This move is seen as a gesture of support against President Vladimir Putin, especially with a significant meeting between him and President Trump on the horizon.
The committee’s vote on this legislation is scheduled for Wednesday. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the bill last month as part of ongoing efforts during Russia’s prolonged conflict with Ukraine.
“Russia has earned its place on this list,” Graham asserted during a press conference promoting the bill.
The proposed legislation outlines serious allegations, including: the estimated abduction of 20,000 Ukrainian children by Russia and war crimes, the primary accusations in Putin’s indictment by the International Criminal Court. Russian authorities claim they have moved over 700,000 Ukrainian children to Russia under the guise of a humanitarian operation.
In March, President Trump terminated funding for a State Department initiative aimed at tracking these abducted children, while asserting that returning them remained a priority.
In August, First Lady Melania Trump publicly supported the return of these children and reached out to Putin in a letter during a summit. She remarked that some Ukrainian adults, who had been taken as children, agreed to return.
Under the Senate bill, the Secretary of State would have to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism unless Russia can demonstrate that all abducted children have been returned.
Currently, only four nations—Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria—are labeled as state sponsors of terrorism. Graham had previously introduced a similar proposal with Blumenthal in June 2024. Back in 2022, the Biden administration collaborated with Congress to categorize Russia as an “aggressor state” to avoid the harsher classification of terrorism.
While the committee is expected to review the terrorism bill on Wednesday, its advancement to the Senate floor seems uncertain without support from the White House. The committee will also likely vote on several other bills concerning actions against Russia, China, and others supporting the war in Ukraine.
One such bill, backed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H), aims to impose sanctions on Chinese individuals and companies providing support to Russia, along with legislation focused on seizing Russian assets for Ukraine’s benefit.
The discussions in the committee coincide with President Trump’s renewed efforts to end Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, favoring dialogue with Putin over imposing sanctions.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) mentioned that Trump has decided to delay a veto-ready sanctions bill regarding Russia, citing respect for his upcoming summit with Putin in Budapest, Hungary.
