Trump Backs New Russia Sanctions Bill
President Donald Trump has shown his support for a Senate measure aimed at imposing fresh sanctions on Russia, according to Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina.
Following his discussion with Trump, Graham shared that the Senate might vote on this bill “hopefully as soon as next week.” A group of bipartisan senators has been working for several months to draft a sanctions package that also has the backing of the White House.
“Today, after a productive conversation with President Trump on various issues, he authorized the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been collaborating on with other Senate members for months,” Graham stated. He highlighted the support from senators like Richard Blumenthal as well.
He continued, “While Ukraine is making some concessions toward peace, President Putin still talks about killing innocent people.”
The proposed bill intends to undermine Russia’s military capabilities by targeting not just Russian industries, but also countries that purchase Russian oil, including China and India.
On a related note, the U.S. military confirmed the seizure of two tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. The first vessel, the Russian-flagged Marinella, was captured in the North Atlantic, while the second, the M/T Sophia, was taken in the Caribbean.
Reports indicate that the Marinella had been escorted by Russian submarines and other naval resources while attempting to evade U.S. sanctions.
According to the Army chief, “The blockade of sanctioned and unlawful Venezuelan oil remains in full effect worldwide.” This statement followed the seizure of the tanker.
In mid-December, Trump announced a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, reinforcing the U.S.’s stance on the situation.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that the M/T Sophia was involved in “illegal activities” in the Caribbean and is being escorted to the U.S. mainland by the Coast Guard for “final disposal.”
SOUTHCOM stated, “Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of the Army remains committed to addressing illegal activities throughout the Western Hemisphere. Our mission is to protect our homeland while restoring strength and security in the Americas.”
Additionally, U.S. Navy SEALs from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment captured the Marinella, previously known as Bela 1, between Iceland and the UK.
