Kaptur, DeLauro Statement on Trump Administration Weighing Further Sanctions Relief for Putin, Russia

Toledo, OH – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee released the following statement after reports that the Trump Administration is considering lifting sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund:

“Days after waiving the sanctions meant to pressure Vladimir Putin, the Trump Administration is now considering freeing the Kremlin’s most important financial tools: the Russian Direct Investment Fund. This multi-Billion-dollar fund is run by Putin’s handpicked envoy, and it exists only to put money in the hands of people Putin wants to influence. It was sanctioned by the Biden Administration in the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and since, the fund’s objectives have not changed. What has changed is that the Kremlin has found an administration more than willing to make a deal. New York Times reporting found Russian officials pushed for this relief during talks over the fund’s role in shipping Russian diesel to the United States.

“Further sanctions relief for Russia will not end the war in Ukraine. It only emboldens Putin and gives him the resources to prolong this conflict. Ukrainian families are still living under Russian attacks. The United States must stand with them, but instead President Trump seems intent on throwing lifelines to their invader.

“These sanctions must remain in place. We will keep standing with the people of Ukraine until Putin’s aggression is defeated and this war is over.”

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