WASHINGTON: Two Democratic senators are urging President Donald Trump not to further waive U.S. sanctions on purchases of Russian oil, arguing that doing so is unwarranted now that the war with Iran is now over.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren said in a statement on Tuesday that waiving sanctions would only help Russia fund its “illegal war” with Ukraine.
In March this year, the United States granted sanctions exemptions to India’s purchase of Russian oil to stabilize global oil markets as the war with Iran that broke out on February 28 caused a sharp rise in crude oil prices.
Sanctions exemptions were later extended to other countries. The one-month exemption has been extended twice and expires on June 17.
“Another extension of this license would provide Vladimir Putin another opportunity to reap financial windfalls while continuing his brutal war on Ukraine,” the senators said.
They said the extension also clearly contradicts Trump’s statement that the war with Iran is over and his rationale for abandoning the waivers to reduce energy market disruption caused by the war with Iran.
Shaheen of New Hampshire and Warren of Massachusetts are ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committees, respectively.
Senators said Trump’s efforts to reduce chaos in the oil market have clearly failed as Americans have been burdened with steep price increases at gas stations and grocery stores since the conflict began.
“If the administration renews this license now, it would be the clearest sign yet that President Trump either does not believe his deal will work or simply refuses to stand up to Putin, even after more than four years of conflict and the loss of countless innocent lives,” they said.
So far, these extensions have only helped Russia, the aggressor and oppressor, while Ukraine continues to fight for its sovereignty and security. Senators say every dollar the Kremlin makes from this license helps Putin fund his illegal war.
“We want President Trump to understand the obvious: Ukraine is winning, and if President Trump is interested in a peace deal, he should put more pressure on Putin to accept a just and lasting peace rather than giving him more sanctions relief.
“Continuing to show such weakness will only invite more aggression and make the end of the war further out of reach,” Shaheen and Warren said.
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