Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts urged Congress to pass a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing it would increase economic pressure on Vladimir Putin and countries helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ricketts said the legislation would expand sanctions on Russian banks, oligarchs and the country’s “shadow fleet,” while giving the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue buying Russian oil. He argued that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, Putin could target NATO countries next, risking a broader conflict involving the U.S.
