Amidst the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the United States has maintained that it will continue to support Ukraine in its defense efforts. As a result, Russia has sanctioned 398 members of Congress. The sanctions come after the United States has sanctioned both Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.
A State Department spokesperson commented that “the Russian government is sanctioning members of Congress for standing up for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia’s unprovoked war.”
The sanctions against U.S. lawmakers is a direct response to sanctions that the Biden administration announced on March 24 aimed against “328 deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation” according to the Foreign Ministry.
Called “mirror sanctions,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that “these individuals, including the leadership and committee chairmen of the lower house of the U.S. Congress, are placed on the Russian stop list on a permanent basis.” Moreover, “together with other current lawmakers, who, like Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were previously banned from entering the Russian Federation, all U.S. congressmen are ‘listed’ on a reciprocity basis.”
Of the 398 lawmakers that are sanctioned, 25 of them are from the state of Florida. It includes the likes of Florida Rep. Val Demings (D), Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R), and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R).
"If standing up for #Ukraine, democracy, a free press and fair elections lands me on #Putin's sanctions list, so be it. It'll look good next to my 'F' rating from the NRA," stated Rep. Wasserman Schultz.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it would be enacting more retaliation measures against U.S. lawmakers. However, it did not specify the reasoning behind the efforts.
Also targeted in the announcement are 87 Canadian senators.
Some vocal lawmakers like California Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) were not sanctioned. The controversial congressman faced scrutiny after it was revealed he had developed a relationship with a spy working on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
Over the weekend, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended an invitation to President Biden for him to visit Ukraine after the White House announced Biden did not intend on visiting.
“I think he is the leader of the United States, and that’s why he should come here to see,” Zelenskyy said.
