Senator Blocks Votes to Expand China Sanctions, Give Russian Assets to Ukraine
Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., tried and failed Dec. 18 to have the Senate vote on a bill that could lead to additional sanctions on China for providing dual-use items to Russia’s war against Ukraine (see 2508020001).
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She experienced the same outcome with legislation aimed at transferring about $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine (see 2509230056).
Shaheen asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to take up each measure, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., objected to both of them. He said the sanctions proposal wouldn't change China’s behavior, and the assets legislation would push Russia to abandon peace talks with Ukraine.
The sparring came two days after Paul blocked an attempt by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to bring up a bill to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism (see 2512160076).
Proponents of the three bills could try to advance them by other means in the coming months.