That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Thursday, September 13, 2018. Check back here tomorrow for more of our ongoing coverage. Take care.
Top Republican Lawmaker Calls For Stronger U.S. Action Against Russia
By Mike Eckel
WASHINGTON -- A top U.S. Republican lawmaker has called for more to be done to punish Russia for its “aggressive acts” in Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere, as pressure grows in Congress to move more forcefully against Moscow.
The September 13 comments by Representative Ed Royce (Republican-California) came one day after President Donald Trump’s administration unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening election security, ahead of midterm congressional elections in November. The measure set up the potential for sanctions on foreign countries or people who interfere in U.S. voting.
But congressional Republicans and Democrats have joined a push for more concrete actions against the Kremlin, a push that has contrasted with some of Trump’s past calls for a more conciliatory policy toward Russia.
New bipartisan legislation introduced in August -- titled the Defending American Security From Kremlin Aggression Act of 2018 -- proposes new sanctions and other punitive measures, going beyond those imposed last year in legislation that Congress passed nearly unanimously, over Trump’s objections.
Among other things, the bill would impose sanctions on any Russian energy transactions, prohibit licenses for U.S. citizens and companies hoping to engage in Russian oil projects, and also curtail Russia’s ability to issue new sovereign debt.
Prospects for the bill are uncertain, particularly with lawmakers gearing up to campaign ahead of the midterm elections.
At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on September 13, Royce said he thought the Trump administration had not been doing enough.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (click to enlarge):
