
On Monday, U.S. senators reached an agreement regarding imposing new sanctions against Russia. The agreement will be filed as an amendment to a larger Iran sanctions bill that is nearing passage in the Senate.
The sanctions are meant to punish Russia for several Russian actions. The sanctions will punish Russia for the alleged meddling in the U.S. 2016 presidential election, its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region, and its support of, and supplying weapons to, the government of Syria.
The new measure will also codify existing sanctions and place new economic restrictions on Russia. It will allow new sanctions on Russian mining, metals, shipping and railway industries.
The proposed legislation is backed by both Republicans and Democrats, and it is expected to pass the Senate. It could come to a vote as early as later this week. To pass into law, the legislation will also need to be approved by the House of Representatives and be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
In a statement released late Monday, top Republican and Democratic senators on the Foreign Relations Committee and the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs said the agreement would “provide for a mandated congressional review” if the White House sought to ease penalties against Russia unilaterally.