[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 130 (Friday, August 7, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Russia Sanctions

  Mr. President, on Russian sanctions, if we want to stop the bloodshed 
Russia unleashed on Ukraine, we have to make it clear to Putin that he 
is fighting a losing battle. The Russia sanctions bill sends an 
unmistakable message to Moscow that America will back Ukraine to the 
hilt; that we will look for new ways to back Ukraine. Lindsey Graham 
was searching for those ways for a long time, and today his wishes--
even though he is no longer with us--are likely to achieve fruition. 
The Russia sanctions bill will make it clear to Moscow that America 
will back Ukraine to the hilt. The Russian sanctions bill sends an 
unmistakable message to Putin that we will oppose him for as long as it 
takes to defeat him.
  I have long said that supporting Ukraine and its fight against 
Russia's illegal invasion is about protecting the United States and our 
future generations as much as it is about supporting Ukraine. Just this 
morning, the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. intelligence is now 
warning Putin may try a limited assault on NATO in the coming months 
and years to test our resolve.
  Putin's ambitions beyond Ukraine have long been clear to all of us 
who have fought tooth and nail to support Ukraine. Putin wants to test 
America's resolve because he doubts Trump's resolve. That is what 
happens when Trump tries to placate the Russians at every turn. And now 
Congress, bipartisan, with Lindsey Graham looking down upon us, is 
saying: Even if Trump doesn't get it, the danger that Putin presents, 
we do, and we are taking strong action.
  We need to show Putin he is dead wrong about questioning our 
strength, and this bill is an important step in that direction. The 
legislation is going to help drain Putin's war chest and give Ukraine 
the tools to defend itself.
  So I want to thank Senators Blumenthal and Shaheen for all their work 
on this bill. They have been diligent, dogged, and unrelenting, and 
they are about to achieve their goal by passing this legislation.
  Thugs like Putin don't care about what we say, only what we do. You 
can only stop him with actions and not words. Russia is losing momentum 
in this war every single day, and we will keep helping Ukraine stop the 
invaders in their tracks for as long as it takes.