Republican senators are threatening to codify sanctions against the Kremlin amid speculation that President Donald Trump will ease the sanctions and refusal from the Trump team to commit to maintaining or increasing them.
“For the sake of America’s national security and that of our allies, I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation and reject such a reckless course,” Arizona senator John McCain said in a statement. “If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law.”
McCain warned Trump against cozying up to Russian president Vladimir Putin during a confirmation hearing for now-Defense Secretary James Mattis earlier this month. He reiterated those warnings Friday ahead of a phone call between Trump and Putin.
“[Trump] should remember that the man on the other end of the line is a murderer and a thug who seeks to undermine American national security interests at every turn,” McCain said. “For our commander-in-chief to think otherwise would be naïve and dangerous.”
Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said Friday that lifting sanctions is “under consideration” in advance of the Trump-Putin phone call. Trump similarly avoided committing on the matter one way or the other.
“Very early to be talking about that,” Trump said during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May. “If we can have a great relationship with Russia and with China, and with all countries, I’m all for that.”
Ohio senator Rob Portman joined McCain in urging Trump not to lift the sanctions and advised codifying them into law.
“I believe the U.S. Senate should take pro-active steps to codify the sanctions against Russia into law to ensure we live up to our commitments to our allies and uphold longstanding American values and ideals,” Portman wrote in a statement.
Both senators underscored the need to stand by Ukraine against Russian aggression.
The Obama administration levied sanctions on Russia over Putin’s annexation of Crimea and incursion into eastern Ukraine in 2014. Former President Barack Obama ordered another round of sanctions in late December over Russian cyber attacks and election interference.
McCain, Portman, and a number of other senators introduced bipartisan sanctions legislation in January that would codify some of Obama’s executive orders, among other moves meant to counter Russia’s destabilizing activities.
“When it comes to Russia’s efforts to undermine democracy in our backyard and throughout the world, enough is enough,” said South Carolina Lindsey Graham, a cosponsor of the legislation. “These bipartisan sanctions will be hard-hitting and go well-beyond what exists today.”
