McConnell signals skepticism on Russia sanctions legislation

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appeared skeptical about the need for Russia sanctions legislation on Tuesday, and urged the administration to use the authority it already has to impose financial penalties immediately.

“I think the most important thing is for the administration and the president has all the authority to do this already, to use every tool in his toolbox before the invasion. I’m skeptical — appreciate the effort of bipartisan senators to come back together behind some kind of legislation — I don’t think Putin will be deterred by any piece of legislation,” McConnell told reporters.

“The president has all the authority you need. He needs to decide the timing. I think it’s going to be a serious deterrent if it’s executed before the invasion and not after,” he added.

McConnell’s comments come as a group of senators are struggling to close a deal on new financial penalties on Russia, some of which would go into effect immediately while others would be tied to an invasion of Ukraine.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), McConnell’s No. 2, acknowledged that the group was still trying to get to a deal but predicted that “there will be some support” if they are able to get there.

“[But] you heard the leader say the administration has the authority to do all this and they ought to do it preemptively. Who knows how long it will take to get a bill passed out of here and signed into law. And if you want to use it as a deterrent to the Russians then they should impose some of these sanctions already,” Thune said.

Senators signaled late last week that they were close to a deal. But Sen. James Risch (Idaho), the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, suggested that there were a “handful” of issues that still need be resolved.

“It’s more than just two issues. We’ve got a list of issues,” Risch told reporters. He added that some were “existential” to an agreement while others weren’t, but estimated that there were a “handful of big issues.”

Asked about McConnell, Risch added that he thought it was important for Congress to show a united front on Russia sanctions, even though he thought the administration largely had the authority it needs.

“I think it’s important if we can come together to send a message that it’s not just the administration, but Republicans and Democrats,” Risch said.

Risch, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and a bipartisan group of senators have been locked in negotiations on a sanctions agreement. As part of that deal, Menendez has floated that they could apply immediate sanctions in response to Russian cyberattacks and efforts to undermine the Ukrainian government.

But more sweeping penalties would be enacted if Russia invades Ukraine, including targeting top Russian officials, the Russian financial system and other sectors of the Russian economy.

Two of the biggest points of contention in the negotiations has been trying to figure out the balance of sanctions that get applied immediately once the bill becomes law and which would be tied to an invasion, as well as what to do about the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told senators on Monday night that if Russia invades Ukraine, the pipeline, which would carry gas from Russia to Germany, would not go forward.

“I think that that question has become a lot clearer for members. …He made it time and time again unequivocal that he is in lock step …. with the United States,” Menendez told reporters, when asked about Nord Stream 2.

Even as McConnell appeared skeptical about the effectiveness of sanctions legislation, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) indicated that progress was being made.

“It is moving along but there are still a couple of areas of disagreement, but they’re bridging the gap. They’re getting closer and closer,” Schumer told reporters.