U.S. senators still preparing bill to prevent Russia sanctions removal

U.S. senators are still preparing legislation that will encode U.S. sanctions against Russia for the illegal annexation of Crimea and military occupation of Donbas, preventing U.S. President Donald Trump from removing them himself, the politico.com news site reported on Jan. 23. “We need more sanctions against Russia,” said U.S. Senator John McCain, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation alongside U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “If we don’t keep those sanctions on and even increase them, it will encourage Vladimir Putin, who is a war criminal.”

Zenon Zawada: Such legislation should have been approved by the U.S. Senate while Barack Obama was still president, in order for him to sign it. Now that Trump has been inaugurated, the senators will need Trump’s signature for such legislation. We think it will likely be approved, at least for symbolic purposes, but we are doubtful the president would allow a bill to restrict his authority. Of course, the U.S. Congress would then have to override his veto.