The key facts

  • Richard Blumenthal intends to introduce a bill reinstating sanctions against Russia and providing military aid to Ukraine
  • He proposed canceling the US-Russia 'diesel deal' and placing Starlink and Starshield under control
  • Earlier, FT reported the Democrats' plans to allocate $15 billion to Ukraine; Trump said he would not tighten sanctions for now

A legislative initiative in the new session

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal announced his intention to introduce a bill supporting Ukraine in the new session of the US Congress. As he wrote on the social network X, the document would provide for the reinstatement of suspended sanctions against Russia, the cancellation of the 'diesel deal' between Washington and Moscow, and military aid to Kyiv, primarily in the field of air defense. This is reported by Gazeta.Ru.

Demands on the administration and Starlink

'We must immediately call on Trump to reinstate the suspended sanctions against Russia, halt his disgusting diesel fuel deal, provide military aid — especially in the area of air defense — and take further steps to bring Putin to serious peace negotiations,' the outlet quotes the senator as saying. In his view, President Donald Trump needs 'new negotiators,' and Congress should take on the search for them itself. In addition, Blumenthal proposed placing the Starlink system and its 'military package' Starshield under control, explaining: 'Neither our national defense nor our allies should depend on the unpredictable whims of an egocentric billionaire.'

Context: the Democrats' plans and the White House's position

The senator's statement continues his party's line: back in October he reported that 12 US senators had sent Trump a letter calling for the cancellation of the diesel deal with Russia. According to Financial Times, citing sources, after the congressional elections the Democrats plan to provide Ukraine with a new aid package worth $15 billion. The administration's position, however, is different: in October Trump statedthat Washington does not intend to tighten sanctions against Russia at the current moment. In the US itself, the Democrats' plan against Russia has already faced criticism. Thus, Blumenthal's initiative so far remains a statement of intent: its introduction and its prospects in the new session of Congress are known only from the senator's words.