Sanctioning russia: New Bill Gains Momentum in Congress as Nova Ukraine Advocates Push for Action

As russia’s war on Ukraine drags on—with no ceasefire in sight—momentum is building in Congress for a sweeping sanctions package aimed at increasing pressure on the Kremlin. The Sanctioning russia Act of 2025 has gained bipartisan traction in the Senate, with over 80 co-sponsors, while the House version has more than 30 backers. Advocacy groups, including Nova Ukraine, are working to amplify public support for this legislation, which they see as a critical tool for holding russia accountable and supporting long-term peace.

Why It Matters

Over the memorial weekend, Ukraine endured the largest aerial assault since the full-scale invasion began. During three days, russian forces launched approximately 367 drones and missiles across at least 13 regions—including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Odesa. These attacks killed at least 14 civilians, including three children, and left dozens injured, destroying homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure.

The intensity of these strikes has overwhelmed Ukraine’s air defense systems, leaving millions without power, internet, or safe shelter.

Amid this escalation, the Sanctioning russia Act of 2025 gains renewed urgency. The legislation proposes using economic leverage—not military force—to penalize those fueling russia’s war economy and reinforce international calls for genuine peace talks.

What the Bill Does

Introduced as S.1241 in the Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and as H.R. 2548 in the House by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the bill lays out a clear framework for consequences if russia continues aggressive action.

Key provisions include:

• 500% tariffs on imports from countries that continue purchasing russian oil, natural gas, uranium, or petroleum products.
  
• Blocking access to financial services for russian banks, including systems similar to SWIFT (in the House version).
  
• A ban on investments in russian state-linked entities and listing russian companies on U.S. exchanges.
  
• A prohibition on uranium imports from Rosatom and its subsidiaries, extending to countries that trade in russian-origin nuclear materials.
  
• Asset freezes and visa bans for russian officials, military leaders, and individuals supporting the war effort.

These measures are tied to presidential determinations of whether russia has:

• Initiated a new invasion of Ukraine,
  
• Violated any peace agreement,
  
• Or failed to negotiate in good faith (defined in Section 4 of the House bill).

Legislative Status

• The Senate bill (S.1241) currently sits in the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with over 80 bipartisan cosponsors.
  
• The House bill (H.R. 2548) has more than 30 cosponsors and has been referred to multiple committees, including Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Financial Services, and Ways & Means.
  
• The procedural rule needed to move it forward—H.Res.438—remains in the House Rules Committee with no markup scheduled.
  
• Lawmakers have discussed the possibility of using a discharge petition to bring the bill to a vote. This would require signatures from 218 House members.

Executive Perspective

The Trump administration has not formally endorsed the sanctions bill. In recent weeks, President Trump has intensified his rhetoric against russian President Vladimir Putin, warning on Truth Social that Putin is “playing with fire” and calling him “absolutely crazy” in response to russia’s latest wave of drone and missile attacks. President Trump has also stated that without his efforts, “lots of really bad things would have already happened in russia,” hinting at the importance of his mediation.

However, President Trump has stopped short of committing to new sanctions, and internal discussions within the administration continue. Some advisers reportedly argue that additional sanctions could hinder diplomatic options, while others, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggest that sanctions could serve as a necessary recourse if russia fails to show sufficient progress toward a ceasefire. Rubio has framed the Sanctioning russia Act as a tool the administration might use if the Kremlin refuses to engage seriously in peace negotiations.

Some lawmakers and advocacy groups argue that delaying action risks reducing U.S. leverage at a time when civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in Ukraine continue to mount.

Nova Ukraine’s Role

As a founding member of the American Coalition for Ukraine (ACU), Nova Ukraine supports policies that hold aggressors accountable and support long-term peace and justice in the region. We believe sanctions are a non-military tool that can complement diplomatic efforts and deter further violence.

In our conversations with policymakers, we emphasize:

1. Sanctions are not an escalation—they are a response to ongoing violations of international law.
   
2. Bipartisan support focused on holding the true aggressor, russia, accountable already exists, and this bill reflects that.
   
3. Sanctions work—and they don’t rely on taxpayer funding. They apply targeted economic pressure where it matters most: russia’s war economy.

What You Can Do

We encourage all supporters of Ukraine to:

• Contact representatives: ask your House representative to co-sponsor H.R. 2548 and support H.Res.438
  
• Use your social media voice – share updates about the bill and help amplify fact-based content
  
• Follow Nova Ukraine and the ACU on social media for coordinated advocacy updates

Learn more and get involved:https://novaukraine.org/project/advocacy/

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