The signing of the partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea and the deepening of military cooperation between these authoritarian countries should be the final impetus for the adoption in the US Congress of the decision to recognize the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Senators from both leading parties of the US Congress emphasized this at a joint press conference on Thursday, June 20, presenting the relevant bill.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that in addition to the crimes that Russia has committed in Ukraine and other countries around the world, Putin's visit to North Korea is a new challenge and now is the "right time" to pass this bill:
"The fact that Putin had the guts to make a defense deal with North Korea ... one of the most repressive regimes on the planet means we've lost our tempers ... I urge the administration, given what Putin did yesterday, to go all in and recognize his regime as it is: a state sponsor of terrorism." Graham said.
In addition, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal noted that the agreement signed between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un is "deeply frightening" and "hostile to the United States, peace, freedom and justice around the world."
"The two most autocratic leaders in the world who commit atrocities stand together and sponsor terrorism ... Russia deserves to be in this small, select club of atrocity killers." Blumenthal said.
In the premises that qualify Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, the senators note in particular "the illegal invasion of sovereign Ukraine in 2022, which resulted in the brutal killing of thousands of innocent civilians."
In addition, the senators suggest adding the poisoning of Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko in 2004, the poisoning of former Russian FSB officer Oleksandr Lytvynenko in 2006, the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 350 in Donetsk in 2014, and the bombing of Aleppo in Syria to the list of evidence of Russian terrorist activity. in 2016, the poisoning of former Russian military officer and British double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK in 2018, and the death in 2024 of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.
Asked by Voice of America journalist Kateryna Lisunova when exactly the relevant draft law can be brought to a vote, the senators answered that it will happen "sooner than later."
"Time Predictions Are Pretty Dangerous in the United States Senate", Blumenthal added.
At the same time, according to him, there is currently bipartisan support in Congress for the draft law on recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
"I spoke with the administration regarding this document. They certainly sympathize with our goals. We worked on some points. We plan to continue working with them. But I think now is the time for us to move forward." - said Blumenthal.
An explanation of the document released by the senators said, in particular, that the bill would have secondary effects, including sanctions against countries that carry out any trade with Russia, and expands the type of dual-use export goods that will not be allowed into Russia.
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