Washington, Jun 17 (PTI): Two Democratic Senators have urged President Donald Trump against granting any further exemption from US sanctions on the purchase of Russian oil, contending that there is no rationale for such a move, as the war with Iran is now over.
In a statement here on Tuesday, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren said the waiver from sanctions has only helped Russia finance its “illegal war” with Ukraine.
In March, the US granted a sanctions waiver to India for the purchase of Russian oil in a bid to stabilise global oil markets as the war with Iran, which started on February 28, led to a sharp increase in crude prices.
The sanctions waiver was later extended to other countries. The one-month exemption has been extended twice and expires on June 17.
“Extending this license yet again would give Vladimir Putin another opportunity to reap windfall financial gains while he continues his brutal war against Ukraine,” the two senators said.
They said an extension would also clearly contradict Trump’s declaration that the war with Iran is over and his stated rationale for these waivers of trying to reduce energy market disruptions stemming from his war against Iran.
Shaheen from New Hampshire and Warren from Massachusetts are ranking members of the Senate committees on foreign relations, and banking, housing and urban affairs, respectively.
The senators said Trump’s efforts at reducing oil market disruptions have clearly failed as Americans have been burdened by significantly higher prices at the pump and grocery store since the beginning of the conflict.
“If the administration renews this license now, it will be the clearest sign yet that President Trump either does not believe his own deal will hold or simply will refuse to ever confront Putin, even after more than four years of conflict and countless innocent lives taken,” they said.
Thus far, these extensions have only helped Russia, the aggressor and oppressor, while Ukraine continues to fight for its sovereignty and security. Every additional dollar the Kremlin earns from this license helps Putin finance his illegal war, the senators said.
“We hope President Trump understands what is plain to see: Ukraine is winning, and if President Trump is interested in a peace deal, he should be increasing pressure on Putin to accept a just and lasting peace, not handing him more sanctions relief.
“Continuing to show weakness like this will only invite more aggression and put an end to the war further out of reach,” Shaheen and Warren said. PTI SKU SCY SCY
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