Wilson, co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission at the Congress, commented in an interview with PAP on the chances of adopting a draft sanctions bill against Russia, providing, among other things, high tariffs on goods from countries purchasing Russian crude oil. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announced that he had received the green light on the bill, which has been languishing in a Senate committee since April 2025.
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What sanctions could be introduced against Russia?
Who is the co-chair of the Helsinki Commission?
When is the vote on the sanctions bill planned?
What does Graham's Senate sanctions bill include?
“Trump understood that Putin was insulting him.” Congressman on a breakthrough
— I have great faith in Lindsey and I think we now have a good chance of passing these sanctions. This is very important, and there is a powerful bipartisan majority in Congress that wants this. And, fortunately, in the end it was realized that Putin did not want peace, that he was playing games with the president, Wilson said. According to him, the breakthrough in this matter was Trump's last conversation with Putin, during which the Russian president provided him with reports about an alleged – and, as it turned out, fictitious – Ukrainian attack on his residence.
— Trump rightly said at the time that it made him angry, but then it turned out it wasn't true. So it is as I have been repeating here for six months: the war criminal Putin is mocking Donald Trump, insulting him with his behavior. And Donald Trump wants peace very much, but he will not endure it meekly, emphasized the congressman from the Foreign Affairs Committee. — With each passing day, the president is becoming more aware of this and we will see the results, he added.
Wilson also assessed that the US operation in Venezuela, where Moscow had strong influence, was a strong blow to Russia.
— They lost Venezuela, and before that they lost Syria. Now we see that the regime in Tehran is wavering. So this is all good news for Europe, he assured. When asked about Trump's threats to take over Greenland, the congressman expressed his belief that they were only a means to an end.
-We can't do this. This is NATO, after all. There will be no colonization of Greenland. This is just a signal to mobilize NATO to get serious about the Arctic, Wilson said.
Will the US introduce new sanctions on Russia? “It's really necessary”
Democratic congressman Jim Costa also told PAP that the sanctions bill may finally be put to a vote in Congress. As he noted, as the negotiation impasse over the war in Ukraine continues, support for new sanctions increases.
— The plan is to vote on it in January. And this is really necessary, considering Russia's behavior and its audacity, Costa emphasized. He noted, however, that ultimately the use of sanctions and their effectiveness depend on the president.
— It's up to the president whether he uses these powers. And it's not like they implement themselves. They need to be enforced, he emphasized.
Currently, two draft sanctions bills against Russia have been submitted to Congress. The Senate bill by Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal provides for the possibility of additional sanctions against Russia, including on oil companies, the banking sector and the shadow fleet, as well as tariffs of up to 500 percent. for goods from countries purchasing Russian raw materials. Meanwhile, a compromise bill was submitted to the House of Representatives in December. This version does not talk about 500 percent tariffs, but about mandatory sanctions. The new package would prohibit Americans from investing in Russia and concluding transactions with Russian entities, and would close a loophole in restrictions that allows the import of Russian oil processed by refineries in other countries, including in India.
Graham said Wednesday that he expects a vote on his bill next week.
