Sen. Johnny Isakson: Senate Republicans Introduce Strategic U.S. Response To Deter Russian Aggression In Europe

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Isakson, Senate Republicans Introduce Strategic U.S. Response to Deter Russian Aggression in Europe

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today introduced legislation with 20 Senate Republicans providing a strategic U.S. response to deter Russian aggression in Europe.

Isakson said Russia’s actions are threatening regional security and prosperity and could eventually harm economic growth in the United States.

“We as a country will not stand by and allow Russia to deliberately disregard international law or President Putin’s continued violation of Ukrainian sovereignty that threatens the peace and security of the region,”said Isakson. “There must be consequences for the rogue actions taken by the Russian Federation and those responsible for undermining the sovereignty, integrity and government of Ukraine. We must stand firm in our unwavering support for Ukraine and our NATO allies in the region and should continue to put the pressure on the Russians to let President Putin know that human liberty, freedom, peace and the right to democracy is what America defends.”

The Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014 is cosponsored by Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Thune (R-.S.D.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

Key provisions of the Russian Aggression Prevention Act are included below.

For a copy of the legislative text, click here.

For a section-by-section bill summary, click here.

For a one-page background of the bill, click here.

Strengthen NATO

• Increases substantially U.S. and NATO support for the armed forces of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, as well as other countries determined appropriate by the president.

• Requires the president to accelerate implementation of missile defense in Europe and provide other missile defense support for our NATO allies.

Deter Russian aggression

• Places immediate new sanctions on any Russian officials and agents involved in the illegal occupation of Crimea, as well as on corrupt Russian officials and their supporters, and broadens and solidifies the sanctions already imposed by the administration.

• Imposes immediate new sanctions tied to the destabilization of eastern Ukraine on four key Russian banks: Sberbank, VTB Bank, VEB Bank, Gazprombank, as well as on the Gazprom, Novatek, Rosneft energy monopolies, and Rosoboronexport, the major Russian arms dealer.

• If Russian armed forces cross further into, or Russia further annexes, the sovereign territory of Ukraine or any other country, even tougher sanctions would (1) cut all senior Russian officials, their companies, and their supporters off from the world’s financial system; (2) target any Russian entities owned by the Russian government or sanctioned individuals across the arms, defense, energy, financial services, metals, or mining sectors in Russia; (3) and cut Russian banks off from the U.S. banking system.

Harden our non-NATO allies

• Authorizes the president to provide $100 million worth of direct military assistance to Ukraine, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons and small arms, based on a needs and capabilities assessment of the Ukrainian armed forces. It also encourages the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine.

• Provides authority for exports of U.S. natural gas to all WTO members, including key countries in Europe, and provides support to encourage the U.S. private sector to invest in energy projects in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

• Impose significant diplomatic measures on Russia, limits Russia’s access to advanced U.S. oil and gas technologies, provides support for Russian civil society, and focuses U.S. attention on corruption in Russia, potential treaty violations, and other strategically important matters.

• Provides Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia with major non-NATO ally status to facilitate their access to military equipment and expands U.S. and NATO military exercises and training with key non-NATO states. It also prohibits U.S. recognition of the annexation of Crimea and provides support for civil society activities in former Soviet countries, as well as expands U.S. government counter-propaganda efforts in such countries.