U.S. Senate to vote on Wednesday for new Russia sanctions

U.S. senators reached a bipartisan deal on June 12 on legislation that would add sanctions against Russia while enabling the U.S. Congress to review any attempt by the White House to relax existing sanctions, the politico.com news site reported. The new sanctions are being applied to sectors of the Russian economy for alleged interference in the U.S. elections. Though the latest sanctions aren’t related to Ukraine, the bill codifies existing sanctions related to Ukrainian aggression into law. The bill also creates a process by which the U.S. Congress can vote to lift the sanctions. The vote for the legislation is set for Wednesday, June 14.

It’s possible the U.S. government is aiming for regime change and ruining the Russian economy with its sanctions, Russian President Putin said in an interview with Oliver Stone recently broadcast in the U.S., as reported by the RIA Novosti news agency. “People who think this way don’t look 25-50 years forward, at minimum,” he said. “And if they looked at that, then they likely would build relations with Russia in a different manner and not tried to turn Russia into their vassal.”

Zenon Zawada: While U.S. Senate approval is likely, the legislation could be amended or lose momentum in the U.S. House, where the support for sanctions against Russia isn’t as strong.

Endorsed by Putin, the “Stone hypothesis” is legitimate in alleging that the West is aiming for regime change, as well as wrecking the Russian economy. In intensifying pressure on the Russian economy, a new round of sanctions raises the risk of expanded military aggression in Ukraine. They would further back Putin into a corner in which his only option is to abandon Russia or wage war. Surrendering to Western demands is not an option for him.