Risch Statement on Biden Administration’s Actions on Russia

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the Biden Administration's announcement that it has imposed new sanctions on the Russian government in response to the poisoning of Alexei Navalny:

“I welcome today’s sanctions on Russia from the Biden Administration for the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. There must be consequences for Russia’s malign actions, particularly the use of chemical and biological weapons to silence critics. These actions are a positive, albeit largely symbolic, step. In addition, the coordination of sanctions with European partners is positive, and I hope this collaboration will continue.

“However, the Biden Administration has still not issued sanctions that can limit Russia’s malign influence. It is past time the administration implement the mandatory sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This should be done immediately. Preventing the completion of this project would be more than symbolic; it would have a real impact on the Kremlin’s ability to project malign behavior into Europe. If the Biden Administration can end the Keystone Pipeline, I don’t understand why it can’t end the Nord Stream 2 pipeline too.”

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