What happened: U.S. Senate passes Russia oil-purchase sanctions package
The U.S. Senate approved a sanctions package against Russia with bipartisan support, passing the bill with 86-11 votes. The bill is presented as the result of a year-long push led by late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham to strengthen U.S. support for Ukraine.
The sanctions package would penalise countries that continue purchasing Russian oil.
The bill is framed as adding pressure to reduce Russia’s revenue streams used to sustain the war against Ukraine.
Background and earlier position: why sanctions often target war finance
Economic sanctions are commonly designed to restrict an opponent’s ability to fund conflict. In the reported framing, oil purchases by other countries are treated as a channel through which Russia earns revenue, and sanctions are intended to increase the cost of continuing those purchases.
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