US Senate Committee Advances Russia State Sponsor Terrorism Bills

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has advanced a series of bipartisan bills targeting Russia for its actions in Ukraine, including a measure that could designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if it fails to return approximately 19,000 Ukrainian children allegedly kidnapped by Russian forces. This designation would place Russia alongside nations like North Korea, Iran, and Syria, triggering sanctions and penalties for entities doing business with Russia. Additional bills include proposals to confiscate and transfer frozen Russian sovereign assets, estimated at $5 billion under U.S. jurisdiction, to support Ukraine's needs, and to impose sanctions on Chinese entities aiding Russia’s military efforts. The legislation requires the U.S. Secretary of State to certify the return and reintegration of kidnapped children within 60 days of enactment, failing which Russia would be officially recognized as a terrorist state. While committee approval marks a significant step, full Senate votes have been delayed due to issues such as the U.S. government shutdown, though lawmakers remain optimistic about moving forward. Ukrainian officials expressed gratitude for the bipartisan support and emphasized the importance of these measures in increasing the cost of Russian aggression and advancing a just peace.