Will the US impose additional sanctions on Russia?

A group of lawmakers has gathered the 218 signatures needed for a so-called impeachment petition. The document would allow a vote on the Ukraine Support Act without the approval of House Speaker Mike Johnson. The vote is expected in June.

"We are pleased that the House of Representatives will finally begin to pass strong legislation that supports the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their nation and sovereignty," the bill's sponsors: Democrats Gregory Meeks, Steny Hoyer and Marcy Kaptur, along with Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick, Kevin Kiley and Don Bacon, wrote in a statement.

“The Ukraine Support Act could provide this assistance while imposing additional sanctions on Russia to hold it accountable for its brutal war,” they added. The lawmakers called on the Senate to quickly consider the bill after it is passed by the House of Representatives, Defense24 reports.

What is included in the draft law?

The bill provides for a comprehensive support package for Ukraine, covering diplomacy, military assistance, and an expanded sanctions regime against Russia. Among other things, the sanctions would require the US president to impose additional restrictions on Russian financial institutions, all companies in the energy and extractive sectors, the state corporation Rosatom, individuals involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge, individuals who threaten the security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and entities that facilitate arms shipments from North Korea.

Russian banks targeted by the sanctions would be excluded from the SWIFT system, while tariffs on Russian goods would be increased to a minimum of 500 percent. The package also includes a 100 percent tax on income from frozen sovereign assets of Russia and Belarus, as well as a ban on the import of any products from refineries that process Russian oil.

The military aid package will extend the Lend-Lease mechanism through fiscal year 2028, authorize up to $8 billion in loans under the Foreign Military Financing program for the purchase of equipment from Ukraine and NATO allies, and extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through the end of 2027 with a budget of $300 million.

Diplomatic support would include, among other things, a congressional condemnation of Russian aggression and war crimes, including the abduction of Ukrainian children. It would also reaffirm U.S. commitments to NATO.

The bill calls for the creation of a Trust Fund for Ukraine Reconstruction, allocates $250 million for Radio Free Europe/Radio Swoboda, and establishes the position of Special Coordinator for Ukraine Reconstruction at the State Department. It also provides for U.S.-European nuclear cooperation with an annual budget of $30 million.

Having secured the number of signatures needed to force a vote on the bill, its passage is now seen as highly likely. However, that does not guarantee its passage by the Senate, where another sanctions bill has been pending for more than a year.

Despite support from more than 80 of the 100 senators, that bill has not been brought to a vote due to opposition from President Donald Trump. Democrats, however, remain optimistic. An activist working on the Ukraine Support Act considers the signing of the petition a breakthrough.

"We don't know how all of this will play out, but it's certainly part of the pressure that's being put on the White House. And that pressure is only going to increase, including in the Senate."

The GeoPost