US Capitol. Photo: Getty Images
Senators demand answers from Trump over visit of sanctioned Russian lawmakers
US senators ask the Trump administration to explain the entry of sanctioned Russian MPs.
Ukrainska Pravda
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The US Senate is demanding that US President Donald Trump's administration provide explanations regarding the admission to the country of a delegation of Russian MPs subject to sanctions.
Details: The letter, sent on behalf of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and signed by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the committee, and Republican Roger Wicker, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, is dated 3 April.
It is addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The senators expressed concern over the visit to the United States by Russian MPs and their meetings with members of the House of Representatives and US officials, despite being under US sanctions.
Quote: "As you know, unlike the US Congress, the Duma is not a separate and equal branch of government. Its members include Kremlin subordinates who have committed numerous cyber and ransomware attacks on Americans and have facilitated war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. Remarkably, they are today helping Iran target US military and diplomatic personnel across the Middle East. The delegation came onto US soil for one purpose: to advance the Kremlin's strategic aims – including gathering additional useful intelligence."
The senators emphasise that the visit took place at a time when Russia's intentions leave no doubt – citing its assistance to Iran, as well as European intelligence assessments that Russia is considering an attack on a NATO country in the coming years. "And Putin has made it clear that peace in Ukraine is a mirage. His singular ambition for Ukraine is to erase its existence," the senators stress.
They also focused on the individuals included in the delegation. In particular, they recalled that MP Vyacheslav Nikonov had several years ago described the US and NATO as the "Fourth Reich" on Russian television, while Mikhail Delyagin had endorsed the destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"It is important that Congress and the public understand the scope of the Russian delegation's actions here in the United States and the access they may have had to sensitive information," the senators emphasise.
They ask Rubio and Bessent to clarify the official justification for the temporary lifting of sanctions on members of the Russian delegation and whether any restrictions or conditions were imposed; why the aircraft carrying the Russian delegation was allowed to land in the United States and what security measures were taken at the airport; and what meetings the delegation held with US officials.
They also request a full list of all individuals who arrived from the Russian Federation, including all passengers on the aircraft, and ask whether counterintelligence screened all those who entered the United States.
Background:
The visit of the Russian delegation to the US Capitol, organised by the office of controversial Republican House member Anna Paulina Luna last week, immediately drew sharp criticism from American lawmakers who support Ukraine.
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