Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young, along with 49 Senate colleagues, introduced proposed sanctions targeting the Russian Federation. These measures would apply to Russian entities and supporters of its actions in Ukraine, contingent on Russia's refusal to engage in sincere peace negotiations or continued military aggression post-peace agreement.

The sanctions additionally target nations buying Russian oil, gas, uranium, and related products. The roster of co-sponsoring senators spans political affiliations and includes notable figures such as Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, and Dick Durbin, among others.

In a collective statement, the senators articulated their "overwhelming bipartisan support for our primary and secondary sanctions legislation against Russia," underscoring these sanctions as "hard hitting for a reason." They emphasized that "Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future."

The senators reflected on historical agreements, mentioning the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and 2014-2015 Minsk agreements, suggesting these past efforts failed to deter Russian actions. They also referenced Russia's 2022 invasion, which resulted in significant loss of life and displacement.

Expressing hope for a resolution by 2025, with President Trump in office, they aim for this initiative to facilitate "a lasting, just and honorable peace," asserting "these sanctions against Russia are at the ready."

Their call for action continued with: "We support an immediate ceasefire to secure a lasting, honorable peace."