They renewed calls for the president to get tougher with Moscow.
Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called on President Biden’s administration to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. The senators spoke in Washington one day after the Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
Senator Graham said the designation would make it more difficult for countries and people to do business with Russia, enact more sanctions on Russian entities, and waive sovereign immunity to open up lawsuits against Moscow in U.S. courts.
“Sanctions have been effective, but we need to do more,” Senator Graham said. “This designation would be a nightmare for Russia, it would be an encouraging event for the people of Ukraine, and more importantly it would be a statement to the world that the United States, in a bipartisan fashion when it comes to Russia, is not forgiving and not forgetting.”
Senator Blumenthal said the designation “puts Russia in a very small club” that is “outside the bounds of civilized countries.“ He continued,“ This is exactly the designation Russia deserves for what it has done in Ukraine. On this point, Americans are united.”
They also called on President Biden to take a tougher stand against Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a call to Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “Designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism—otherwise, Congress will.”
There are currently four nations the U.S. has designated as state sponsors of terrorism—Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Senators Graham and Blumenthal as they urge the president to take a strong stance against Russia.
- For Secretary Blinken as he considers the recommendations of Congress to designate Russia as supporting terrorism.
- For Speaker Pelosi as she considers traveling to Taiwan despite China’s warning against it.
Sources: The Hill, Politico
