Marco Rubio. Photo: Nathan Howard / Reuters
The United States is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia if there is no progress in the negotiations in the near future. This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with CBS Face the Nation, stressing that the Senate already has more than 77 co-sponsors of the bill, and the number could rise to 80 or more.
“We have given the Russians a clear signal: this process has already started. And we have no control over it. This is a Congressional decision,” Rubio said.
He noted that the Trump administration had asked lawmakers not to force sanctions, giving the president time to reach a potential deal with the Kremlin. However, the warnings have lasted more than six weeks, and the Senate is running out of patience.
What is known about the draft law
According to Rubio, the bill to tighten sanctions was previously agreed upon in March and has the support of Republicans in both houses of Congress. Senator Lindsey Graham already has 77 signatures, and this week in Turkey, both politicians reaffirmed their determination to push the document forward.
“We have repeatedly warned the Russians that sanctions will follow if there is no progress. And that is starting to happen right now,” Rubio added.
Ukraine is closely monitoring the initiative: sanctions pressure remains a key lever against Russian aggression. The new sanctions bill may include restrictions on financial transactions, energy, high technology and individual sanctions against Russian officials and companies.
For Kyiv, the adoption of the law will be an important signal that even amid the change in rhetoric in Washington, the strategic support for Ukraine from US lawmakers is not weakening.
