Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) questioned the legitimacy of a new Russia sanctions bill in the Senate during a recent House Foreign Affairs hearing, calling it "another DC classic" and "performative politics."
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sidney Blumenthal (D-CN) introduced the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 in April, which, as suggested, would impose "bone-breaking" sanctions on the country to force peace talks in its war against Ukraine.
Rep. Luna derided the bill as "another DC classic," asking, "Where is the accountability for how billions in prior aid were spent?"
"Biden's Administration shoved millions and billions of dollars into Ukraine with zero oversight, no audits, and no results," Rep. Luna continued, adding, "Now this bill demands $55 million for monitoring while Section 17 slaps tariffs on other countries buying Russian oil, which China will bypass through third parties. Trump's America First policy does not write blank checks. It demands verifiable wins. And if Europe is not going to step up militarily, why should US taxpayers fund their security theater?"
The Florida Congresswoman further described how the countries closest to Ukraine, such as Romania and Moldova, are in favor of ending the war in line with President Trump. Still, those further away do not, asking Rear Admiral (Ret.) and Foundation for Defense of Democracies Fellow Mark Montgomery on current sanctions against Russia.
"Right now, the Russians are able to ship their fossil fuels in avoidance of the existing sanctions, which both the Biden and Trump administrations have in place, by finding third parties," Montgomery answered, adding, "They ship them on illegal shadow ships, and third parties are receiving that. The way you normally stop that is you then sanction the companies receiving that [oil], the ports receiving it, and the banks involved in the procurement, and then those countries back off. And historically, we have seen that happen with Iran, with North Korea, with others. So all we have to do is enforce the existing laws, the existing sanctions, and we will take away what is funding Russia's military operations."
"Instead of performative politics, right?" Luna replied, which Montgomery affirmed.
