Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) unveiled bipartisan legislation Thursday to withhold economic or military aid to any country that recognizes Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expected annexation of regions of Ukraine.

Putin plans to annex four territories in the country on Friday, the Kremlin announced Thursday, a move that has been met with international condemnation.

“Imminently, probably within the next 24 hours, Russia is set to go ahead with this annexation,” Blumenthal told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday. “And essentially, what we’re saying is any nation that aids and abets Vladimir Putin in this absolutely illegal action ought to be held responsible for its complicity: No economic aid, no military aid to any country that recognizes this annexation. It is a land grab. It’s a steal. And it is another craven, brazen tactic by Vladimir Putin to test the West’s support for Ukraine, and we are having none of it, nor should any other nation.”

Graham said Putin is attempting to redraw the map of Europe through the use of arms where he could not through a legitimate political process.

“The last thing you can do when you’re bullied is give in to the bully,” Graham said, accusing Putin of “nuclear blackmail” after the Russian leader threatened to use nuclear weapons to achieve his ends.

Blumenthal and Graham’s legislation would require the president to cut off all economic and military assistance immediately to any nations that recognize Russia’s annexation of the territories. They also introduced a Senate resolution affirming that the Senate refuses to recognize any claim of sovereignty by the Russian Federation over any portion of Ukraine, condemning a globally rejected referendum directed by the Russian government as a violation of international law.

The pair of lawmakers earlier this month also introduced the Russia is a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act, which would designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism under existing law.

Original Location: Graham and Blumenthal seek to punish countries that recognize Russian annexation in Ukraine

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