Congress Allies Vent to Zelenskyy After Trump Waives Russia Sanctions
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 19
Congress Allies Vent to Zelenskyy After Trump Waives Russia Sanctions
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 19
Summary
Bipartisan Ukraine backers in Congress held a call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Donald Trump waived Russia sanctions, underscoring anger on Capitol Hill over what lawmakers called a free pass for Vladimir Putin.
Republican critics including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito urged Trump to revisit the Friday waiver, while Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Blumenthal warned that failing to punish Moscow would reward its invasion.
Lawmakers are weighing limited responses: Rep. Don Bacon threatened to oppose Trump’s lame-duck agenda, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick promised oversight of any limits on Starshield, and Democrats moved against a separate Russia diesel deal.
The White House said enforcing sanctions now would hinder peace talks, while some GOP supporters instead pitched Trump a bargain under which Ukraine would halt strikes on Russian energy sites in exchange for expanded Starshield access.