DES MOINES, Iowa — Two more Republicans are calling on President Donald Trump to use bipartisan legislation to impose sanctions on Russia, joining a growing chorus that disapproves of his decision to lift sanctions intended to force Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
“I believe we need to use economic firepower to help push (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the table,” Sen. Katie Britt, Republican of Alabama, told Semafor in Des Moines today. “I believe Russia is at the darkest point it has ever been in this entire war, and now is the time for us to increase the pressure.”
Britt was campaigning with Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who has expressed similar reservations about Trump’s overtures toward Putin. “I don’t think we need to make any more deals with Russia,” Hinson said.
Trump said he was waiving sanctions to keep Russia at the negotiating table.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said “immediate implementation of sanctions would hamper ongoing U.S. efforts to negotiate a lasting and comprehensive peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.”
“The president retains the ability to exercise these powers at any time if he believes that doing so would further the national interests,” Rogers said.
Hinson said she planned to campaign with Trump on Thursday and indicated she might then broach the subject of sanctions against Russia.
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