U.S. senators renew push for Russia sanctions after stalled ceasefire talks

Reuters reports.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called on the U.S. Senate to pass sanctions against Russia.

"Putin will continue stonewalling and slow-walking ceasefire efforts till his economy is hit hard -- isolating it on a financial island," Blumenthal said in a statement urging a vote on sanctions legislation.

Graham, who was in Turkey this week for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, called for the bill's approval and criticized Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's decision not to participate in talks with Ukraine.

"When it comes to Russia’s games, enough is enough," Graham said in a statement.

Blumenthal and Graham introduced a bill on April 1 that is intended to make it more difficult for Russia to fund its war by adding provisions like a 500% tariff on imports to the U.S. from countries that buy Russian energy.

• On May 15, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Ankara, expecting the arrival of the Kremlin's leader, but he did not arrive.
• Instead, Russia sent a low-level delegation led by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky.
• Nevertheless, Zelenskyy decided to send a Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul for talks led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who held talks with the Russian delegation the next day.