Tyb
Senators on precipice of Russia sanctions deal
Senators say they are on the brink of clinching a deal on Russia sanctions legislation, as they work to reach a final agreement on text of a bill.
The progress comes after the talks appeared to hit a snag earlier this week, as the group struggled to resolve two of their biggest sticking points: If some sanctions should be implemented immediately and how to handle the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will carry gas from Russia to Germany.
Sen. Jim Risch (Idaho), the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, stopped short of saying that the group has a "deal in principle," but that they were "optimistic" that they would be ready to make an announcement on an agreement "pretty soon."
"It will be soon. When you get to where you need to be on this there's a lot of drafting that needs to take place, and then negotiations over where the commas go and that sort of thing. So, we're in the process of that and we're going to have something for you very, very soon," Risch said, when asked if a deal could be announced on Thursday or Friday.
The news from the Senate comes amid a Russian military buildup on its border with Ukraine. The Russian government has amassed over 100,000 troops at the border with the former Soviet country, prompting concern from the U.S., Canada and allies that the country will invade.
Russia, for its part, has denied it has plans to invade Ukraine.
Risch and Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, appeared together on a CNN "State of the Union" interview on Sunday, with Menendez describing their talks as on the "one-yard line."
But the group faced stumbling blocks when they returned to Washington that scuttled hopes among some senators for a deal earlier this week.
Menendez, on Thursday, said that he was "cautiously optimistic" that they would be able to reach an agreement. He added during an MSNBC interview on the same afternoon that they were "very close" to a final agreement.
"We've been working diligently around the clock to get a bipartisan package," Menendez said.
Senators are eyeing an agreement that would include some financial penalties that would be slapped on Russia as soon as the bill becomes law, including sanctions in response to Russian cyberattacks and efforts to undermine the Ukrainian government. Senators have been discussing giving President Biden some authority to waive the sanctions, though that's been a point of contention among the group.
"We are looking at is sanctions for actions that have already been taken by the Russians," Menendez said.
The negotiating group has been in touch with the administration and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) as they tried to reach a deal.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/592729-senators-on-precipice-of-russia-sanctions-deal
Sounds rather precipicey. Sanctions on Russia seem to be the most likely move by the US. Question is, how does Russia respond?